Jim, I take my way of distinguishing between epigeal and hypogeal from A. J. Eames -- Morphology of the Angiosperms -- opening paragraph in Germination -- "The term epigeal is applied to germination where the seed coat is carried up into the air, regardless of place where germination begins ...; the term hypogeal, where seed coat and cotyledons remain in the soil." That definition leaves a question where the seed coat and the suctorial end of the cotyledon remain underground adjacent to the hypocotyl, while the middle of the cotyledon bulges above ground and becomes photosynthetic. That certainly is an in-between state. Anyway, his definition is not totally satisfactory: in advanced hypogeal germination, the cotyledon does not remain underground -- it is the first organ above ground, in the form of the coleoptile. David E. ________________________________ From: Jim McKenney <jamesamckenney@verizon.net> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Fri, March 15, 2013 6:31:09 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] lily germ pics David, if I understand what you have described, I would call what happens in your Sisyrinchium epigeal germination. Jim McKenney