Anatomy of a Grass Seed

Seed Coat

• The hard, outer covering of the grass seed is known as the seed coat. It protects the embryo, endosperm and the fruit of the seed, or caryopsis.

Embryo

• Germination occurs after the seed is watered. The water causes enzymes to breakdown and form starch. The starch is stored in the endosperm, which nourishes the embryo.

Roots

• The radicle is a taillike, embryonic root that breaks through one end of the grass seed. It grows into a vast root system by absorbing water and nutrients from the soil.

Leaves

• Grass seeds contain one seed leaf or scutellum. Inside the scutellum is a sheath or coleoptile, which harbors the leaves. The leaves break through the seed toward the soil's surface.

Floret

• Tiny flowers or florets emerge after the coleoptile is established. The florets contain the lemma, palea and awn, which disperse new seeds throughout the air and water.