EX.

NO: 1 DATE:
IDENTIFICATION OF VEGETABLES AND THEIR SEEDS

An in depth knowledge of botany of a plant as well as its seed is necessary, for correct
identification of a particular species. In systematic botany or taxonomy the closely related or
similar type of plant are grouped into a single category. These groups are family, genus,
species, etc. In seed identification the particular seed in question must be identified up to the
species level.
The seed, a mature ovule consists of an embryo a protective covering and stored food
as endosperm. The identification of seed is usually by comparison, comparing the seeds with
a mental image of what something should be, with specimens in a reference collection or with
illustration of seeds. In most cases, the useful clues for the identification of seed came from
the following characters:
a) The size, shape and color of seeds.
b) The nature, arrangement and pattern of markings that is lines, ridges, pits, projection
on the seed surface.
c) The shape and position of the attachment scar.
d) The presence of wings, hair or scale, spines, etc.
e) The internal structure, position and size of the embryo, presence or absence of the
endosperm.
Seed keys are developed on the basis of characters pertaining to family, genus and
species. Once the seed is characterized for a particular family, identification of the seed could
easily be made by studying the above mentioned seed characters. Quite often it is difficult to
identify the seeds as such. In such situation, growing it to a plant could do identification of
seed. The original seed sample of the species is always helpful in identification of unknown
unconventional crop and weed seeds.

Seed characteristics of some common vegetable families

1. Leguminoseae
a) Seeds vary greatly in size, shape and surface characters. The fruit may be one
seeded in several-seeded pod.
2. Brassicaceae
b) The seeds unit may be a true seed, in indehiscent pod or a segment of a pod.
c) The seeds are mostly spherical, or sometimes slightly flattened.
d) The surface has reticulum or netting or lines or ridges.
 e) The seed surface is covered with microscopic pits. These pits are usually covered
with a whitish film, giving the appearance of white spots on the surface.
3. Polygonaceae
a) The fruit or so called seed is an achene which is three angled or flattened. The
outer hull (pericarp) is hard, brown and glossy.
4. Chenopodiaceae
a) The seeds are flattened, circular or obovate in shape.
b) The embryo is either in the form of a ring or horse shoe.
5. Euphorbiaceae
a) Seeds vary greatly in size, shape and surface configuration.
b) The scar is a flattened area at the base. In some species the scar is obscured by
caruncle (whitish corky outgrowth).
c) Distinctive feature of the seed in this family is the presence of prominent raphe.
6. Solanaceae
a) The seeds are orbicular, oval or ovate. They are more or less flattened and may be
thick or thin.
b) The embryo is curved with an abundant endosperm.
c) The seed surface may be smooth, or variously configure with a reticulum, broken
lines or pits.
7. Asteraceae
a) The seed unit is an achene which is an indehiscent one, seeded fruit.
b) The top of the achene is usually depressed.
c) In many species there is a fringe of fine bristles or scales around the outer rim.

Practical work to be done

1. Identify various vegetable crops and their seeds and write their common name,
botanical name, family, economic parts and commercial method of propagation.
2. Draw a neat sketch of vegetables and their seeds