seed coat

American  

noun

Botany.

1. the outer integument of a seed.

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seed coat British  

noun

1. the nontechnical name for testa

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seed coat Scientific  

1. The outer protective covering of a seed. The seed coat develops from the integument of the ovule.

2. Also called testa

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Etymology

Origin of seed coat

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

The team found that, as with the outer seed coat in modern angiosperm seeds, the cupule tissue curved around the developing seeds.

From Science Magazine • May 26, 2021

Scale bar, 1 mm. b, Representative scanning electron microscopy image showing measurements of inner and outer seed coat layers.

From Nature • Feb. 7, 2017

The seed is covered by a seed coat, which is derived from the female sporophyte.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

The medium-size red seeds offer a heartier crunch, thanks to their additional seed coat and a predominant nuttiness.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2014

In such case, the lobes of the cotyledons may not attain the full length of the seed coat, or pellicle, which surrounds them.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Incorporated 39th Annual Report at Norris, Tenn. September 13-15 1948 by Northern Nut Growers Association