Seeds Charts, Botany, School Education

Quick Answer: Seeds Charts are botany wall charts showing the structure of dicot and monocot seeds, the stages and types of germination, and the ways seeds are dispersed. They are used in primary and secondary science, often alongside seed-soaking and germination experiments.

Inside a Seed and Out into the World

A soaked bean or gram seed is the usual dicot example on seeds charts: the seed coat, the hilum where the seed was attached to the pod, the tiny micropyle pore, and inside, two cotyledons enclosing the embryo axis with its plumule (future shoot) and radicle (future root). The monocot example is the maize grain, drawn in section to show the endosperm food store, the single shield-shaped cotyledon called the scutellum, and the protective sheaths, the coleoptile and coleorhiza.

Germination panels compare epigeal germination, in which the cotyledons are pushed above the soil, as in bean and castor, with hypogeal germination, in which they stay below ground, as in pea and maize. Dispersal sheets show seeds and fruits carried by wind (winged seeds and parachute hairs), by water (the fibrous coconut), by animals (hooked fruits such as Xanthium) and by pods that burst open, as in balsam.

The conditions needed for germination, water, air and a suitable temperature, are usually shown as well, which leads straight into a class experiment.

Applications

• Soaking and opening gram, bean and maize seeds to match the chart
• Germination experiments testing the need for water, air and warmth
• Seed-dispersal walks to collect seeds around the school
• Monocot and dicot comparison lessons

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Soaked seeds are opened on trays; keep the trays and their water well away from the seeds charts hanging above.
• Mount the germination sheet near the windowsill where seedlings are grown, but out of direct sun.
• Roll the set loosely for storage so the section drawings of the maize grain do not crack.

Why Choose LabEquip

Schools often buy seeds charts with the Fruits Charts, which show how seeds develop inside the fruit, and with the Plant Charts for the overview. Orders go through the LabEquip contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a dicot and a monocot seed?

A dicot seed such as bean has two cotyledons that usually store its food. A monocot seed such as maize has one cotyledon, the scutellum, and most of its food is stored in a separate endosperm.

What are the plumule and radicle?

They are parts of the embryo. The radicle emerges first and grows into the root, and the plumule grows into the shoot that carries the first leaves.

What conditions does a seed need to germinate?

Water to soften the seed coat and activate enzymes, oxygen for respiration, and a suitable temperature. Most seeds do not need light to germinate, although a few small seeds do.

What is the difference between epigeal and hypogeal germination?

In epigeal germination the part of the stem below the cotyledons lengthens and lifts them above the soil, as in bean. In hypogeal germination the part above the cotyledons lengthens, so the cotyledons stay underground, as in pea and maize.

Why do plants disperse their seeds?

Spreading seeds away from the parent reduces competition for light, water and nutrients and lets the plant colonise new places. It also lowers the chance that a disease affecting the parent reaches every seedling.

How can students test the conditions for germination?

Set up several containers of seeds: one kept dry, one fully covered with boiled and cooled water, one in a refrigerator and one moist and warm. Only the moist, warm seeds with access to air germinate well.

Last Updated: September 2026