Germination

COTYLEDONS

Monocots seed has one cotyledons (purple in colour) while dicot seed has two cotyledons.



Germination happens when a baby plant is growing. The plant is between the cotyledons. In the figure below is a seed. The seed is underground and is collecting nutrients.

SEED GERMINATION

When a seed starts to grow, we say it germinates. The cotyledons store food for the baby plant inside the seed. When the seed starts to germinate, the first thing to come out is the main root. The skin starts to split and the tiny shoot straightens, carrying the cotyledons with it. The main root gets bigger. Side roots appear and so do leaves. To grow, the seed's growing conditions usually have to be damp, warm and dark like springtime soil. A dry seed will stay dormant unless it soaks in some water. Then, it will start to germinate.