THE STRUCTURE OF THE SEED IN SOME WESTERN-AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS HIBBERTIA (DILLENIACEAE)

The internal structure of the seed was studied for four Western Austra lian species of the genus Hibbertia (Fam.: Dilleniaceae). The principa l mechanical layer of the seed coat is the endotesta. The large cells of the endotesta are heavily cutinized in potentially viable seeds of all examined species. However, results for H. hypericoides show that t he cells of the endotesta are distinctly less cutinized in non-viable seeds. The tegmen consists of only one layer which is spirally thicken ed. Remains of the nucellus enclose the endosperm. The endosperm is ri ch in both starch and lipids, and the embryo is underdeveloped and min ute. (C) 1995 The Linnean Society of London