Viable

Alive; seeds must be alive in order to germinate. Related Images:

Stratification

Chilling seed under moist conditions. This method mimics the conditions a seed might endure after it falls to the ground in the autumn and goes through a cold winter on the ground. Related Images:

Seed scarification

Involves breaking, scratching, or softening the seed coat so that water can enter and begin the germination process. Related Images:

Seed dormancy

An adaptive feature of some plants to keep the seeds from germinating until conditions exist that favor seedling survival. Related Images:

Seed coat

The protective outer layer of a seed that provides protection for the enclosed embryo. Related Images:

Seed

Matured ovule that occurs as, or in, mature fruits. Related Images:

Secondary root

A type of root system that forms after the primary root emerges from a seed and branches outward. Related Images:

Scarification

Artificial methods to soften the seed coat including scratching or rupturing the seed coat with sandpaper, nicking it with a knife, or degrading it with concentrated acid. Related Images:

Plumule

The shoot portion of an embryo. Related Images:

Ovule

Within the ovary, a tissue/structure that will develop into a seed after fertilization. Related Images: