Seeds contaminants are more likely from species with dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit)
fruits, though seeds from indehiscentindehiscent:
not opening on its own, as in a fruit
fruits are also frequently found. Fact sheets include representative images or illustrations of seeds for every family, when available. Seeds of different taxa are differentiated by several characters, including: size and shape (sometimes variable within a species), color (not always reliable), location and nature of the hilumhilum:
on seeds, the scar indicating where the funiculus was attached; on grass caryopses, the scar visible on the outer fruit surface revealing where the seed is attached on the inner fruit wall surface; or in Asteraceae cypselae, the scar visible on the outer fruit wall revealing where the fruit was attached to the receptacle
, shape of the embryo within the seed coat, surface texture, and the occurrence of wings or structures, such as arilsaril:
(broad sense) appendicular structure that wholly or partly envelops a seed and is produced from or a modification of the funicle, raphe, or outer integument; usually fleshy or pulpy, sometimes spongy or tufted-capillate, often brightly colored
or aril-like structures. Presence of arilsaril:
(broad sense) appendicular structure that wholly or partly envelops a seed and is produced from or a modification of the funicle, raphe, or outer integument; usually fleshy or pulpy, sometimes spongy or tufted-capillate, often brightly colored
or aril-like structures will quickly narrow down the possible families. However, they may be lost in transport, and the key and fact sheets take this into account.
Authors: M. Islam, A. Miller, M. Maher, J. Scher, A. Redford
Content last updated November 2022
idtools.org
