Fig. 5.3-5. Transverse section through the seed coat of a developing bean seed. These are developing macrosclereids which have not yet begun depositing their secondary wall. The columnar nature of the cells is still visible, and nuclei can be seen (arrows). The developing macrosclereids are so narrow that this section, despite being thin, contains at least two or three layers of cells, so we cannot get a really clear look at any single cell. No matter which cell we try to examine, there is another cell or two behind it, giving it a muddled background that obscures detail.