In the literature the seed characters have been named with quite differing exactness and correctness. In the first Notocactus described, there were no statements about the seeds. Later the seed was examined with the bare eye and we find simple statements like "black, helmet shaped, shiny...". With the employment of a simple light microscopes by the amateur biologist, they refined the statements about the seed. After the Second World War there were also statements about the form of the testa cells and similar statements made in the descriptions. For twenty years there have been also partial statements about the internal structure of the seeds. If we compare the statements about the Cotyledons, Perisperm and Embryo in descriptions of the Notocacti, they always contain the same wording. For 15 years most first descriptions have included photos of the seed, which were made under the scanning electron microscope - often abbreviated to SEM (REM in German).

Thomas Engel (1988) in INTERNOTO has reported the problems of the appraisal of these photographs. After first of all using the form of the seeds for classification models, we saw the solution after a few years in the form of the testa cells. This required 400 times enlargements. In the introduction of the chapter to the section Wigginsia if we want to elucidate, that also the testa cells should not be overvalued, if within a species, four not distinguishable specimens from four populations, display different testa structures (cuticular fold patterns). Thomas Engel (1988) has explained, that the testa cells display large differences, depending on which area of the seed they are taken. The testa cells are often different, depending on whether the photograph is of an apical, lateral or dorsal area. In the area of the Hilum Micropylar seam the testa cells become compacted.

In the Notocacti most testa cells are in the lateral area (also where they are frequently photographed) oblong hexagonal = lengthened hexagonal or isometric hexagonal = round hexagonal.

According to the composition of the ever present cuticle we get a different impression. In N. magnificus this is smooth, in the representatives of Neonotocactus or the aggregate around N. uebelmannianus it is greatly folded. Unfortunately, until recently the Hilum was described as the entire region of which today we call the Hilum-micropylar region (HMR). The Hilum (seed umbilicus) is a part the HMB, sometimes formed like a cone or a hollow. We have dispensed with the hypocotyl in our drawings. Although in the Notocacti no strophiole is found, we meet this term in descriptions by certain authors. In Parodia (Spegazzini) a corky tissue is meant, that develops from the aril of the much smaller Parodia seed and enables it to fly or float over a larger area.

Literature:

ENGEL, Thomas (1988): Einführung in die Problematik rasterelektronenmikroskopischer Samenabbildungen ...- INTERNOTO 9 (1): 8 - 14.

GLÄTZLE, W. & PRESTLE, K.H. (1986): Seed-morphology of the genus Notocactus; Bradleya 4: 79 - 96.