Gymnocladus Dioicus Research Articles

The Constitution of the Galactomannan of the Seeds of the Kentucky Coffee Bean (Gymnocladus dioica)1

The Constitution of the Galactomannan of the Seeds of the Kentucky Coffee Bean (Gymnocladus dioica)¹

Chemical Conditions in Maturation, Dormancy, and Germination of Seeds of Gymnocladus dioica

1. In Gymnocladus dioica the impervious seed coat is closely associated with the physical phenomenon of uniform shrinking. 2. The inner pod material, which in the nearly mature pod forms a gumlike mass, plays a part in insuring a slow uniform drying of the seed. 3. Tests indicate that from a chemical standpoint insoluble pectic materials may play a big part in water exclusion by the Malpighian layer. 4. In the present uncertain state of knowledge concerning the composition of the pectic materials, it is not possible to tell whether chemical changes in the Malpighian layer accompany shrinking in the final stages of rapid water loss when the seed becomes impervious. 5. Starch is abundant in the cotyledons in the immature stages and during germination. 6. In the cotyledons the maximum oil content is reached at maturity; at that time the starch content reaches a minimum. 7. Non-reducing sugar is an important storage form in the seed. 8. Reducing sugars are absent in the mature seed, but are found in small quantities in the immature and the germinating stages.

Some Unique Examples of Dispersion of Seeds and Fruits

Previous articleNext article FreeSome Unique Examples of Dispersion of Seeds and FruitsW. J. BealW. J. Beal Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The American Naturalist Volume 32, Number 383Nov., 1898 Published for The American Society of Naturalists Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/277045 Views: 139Total views on this site Citations: 2Citations are reported from Crossref PDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:David N. Zaya, Henry F. Howe The anomalous Kentucky coffeetree: megafaunal fruit sinking to extinction?, Oecologia 161, no.22 (Jun 2009): 221–226.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-009-1372-3Roland M. Harper A PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE ALTAMAHA GRIT REGION OF THE COASTAL PLAIN OF GEORGIA., Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 17, no.11 (Mar 1906): 1–414.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1906.tb56903.x