Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

The hilum is a scar on a seed, such as a bean, that marks where the ovule was attached. In flowering plants, seeds develop from ovules found within the ovary. After fertilization, the ovule matures into a seed, and the hilum is a visible mark on the seed's surface indicating its former attachment point. Sometimes, a small opening called the micropyle, which is where the pollen tube entered the ovule, can also be found on the seed coat.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
  1. hilum
  2. seed - Angiosperm seeds
  3. micropyle

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.