also Obs. or dial. ackerspyre, akerspire. [f. Gr. ἄκρο- (see ACRO-) + σπεῖρ-α anything twisted, or σπείρ-ειν to sow.] ‘The first leaf that appears when corn sprouts; it is a developed plumule.’ Lindley, Treas. of Bot.
1674. Grew, Anat. Plants, I. i. § 13 (1682), 3. In corn, it is that Part, which after the Radicle is sprouted forth, or come, shoots towards the smaller end of the Grain, and by many Malsters, is called the Acrospire.
1858. Maunder, Scient. Treas., 443. By the aid of moisture, the barley is made to germinate, that is to put forth roots and almost its acrospire or first sprout; and by the aid of fire, the roots are destroyed and the acrospire prevented from bursting the skin.
