ENDOSPERM

tissue that surrounds and nourishes the embryo in the angiosperm seed. The initiation of endosperm is a definitive characteristic of angiosperms and requires the fusion of at least one nucleus in the embryo sac with a sperm nucleus from the pollen grain. (In gymnosperms the nutritive material of the seed is present before fertilization.) In some seeds the endosperm has been completely absorbed at maturity (e.g., pea and bean); in others, some is present until germination (e.g., wheat, castor bean). In the coconut, the liquid endosperm contains important growth substances. Endosperm accounts for the economic importance of cereal grains and oilseeds.