endosperm

Embryo's food supply

Endosperm is the tissue inside a seed that surrounds and nourishes the embryo.

In grains like wheat and corn, the endosperm makes up most of the seed and is the starchy part we mill into flour.

When you eat white rice or refined bread, you're eating mostly endosperm.

structure

cotyledon

Embryonic leaf in seeds

embryoOrganism before birth
pericarpMature ovary wall
integumentNatural outer covering

hilum · testa · kernel · grain · triploid · cell wall · vitreous · floury · cereal grain · albumen

crops

wheat

Cereal crop for flour

cornCereal grown on cobs
riceStaple cereal grain
barleyGrain for malt

oats · rye · sorghum · millet · maize · cereal · grain · harvest · milling · flour

nutrition

starch

Complex plant carbohydrate

proteinFolded amino chain
carbohydrateSugar or starch compound
glucosePrimary cellular fuel

lipids · storage · energy reserve · amylose · gluten · nutrient · calories · sugars · fats · nourishment

food

flour

Milled grain powder

breadLeavened flour product
porridgeBoiled grain dish
tortillaThin unleavened Mexican bread

polenta · grits · cornmeal · rice flour · semolina · masa · chapati · injera · fufu · congee

germination

dormancy

Suspended biological activity

sproutingSeeds beginning growth
seedlingRecently sprouted young plant
mobilizationOrganizing for action

amylase · hydrolysis · cotyledon · plumule · shoot · rootlet · viability · maturation

Categories

plant anatomyroot, stem, leaves, stems, leaf
food partsseed, stem, leaf, root, skin
plant biologyphotosynthesis, chloroplast, pollination, stamen, pistil
coconutscoconut palm, coconut palms, coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut water
endo- wordsendocrine, endoscope, endoscopy, endorphin, endothermic
flour millingflour, grinding, millstones, flour mills, wheat flour

Opposites

seed tissue function

endospermembryo

Organism before birth

germ · seed coat · testa · zygote · cotyledon

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G