THE SEKD-MASS ETC. OF HELLEBORUS FŒTIDUS. 433 
The SeedeMass and Dispersal of Helleborus fætidus, Linn. 
зу THOMAS ALFRED Dynes, F.L.S. 
(PLATE 36.) 
[Read 16th December, 1915. 
CONTENTS. 
Page 
Molluses... cssc eee eem n n, ЧОО 
DUE eeeeccsssss see nn n nns 445 
УПСР 446 
Larval Mimicry cesses 450 
Myrmecochory „еее hem 452 
Final Remarks... . cc. cee cee n Н 453 
Bibliographie References... 0... eee eee eee ees .. 455 
IIELLEBORTS rœrrous, Linn., which is known as the Stinking Hellebore, 
the Bearsfoot, and the Setterwort, is a rare member of our native flora, and 
in this country is more often naturalized than wild. 
Its fruit consists of three follicles, which are often slightly coherent at the 
base ; while the sepals, which persist throughout the fruiting period, enlarge 
after flowering, and by catching the wind assist. the subsequent liberation of 
the seeds. 
Long before maturity the fruit becomes pendent, so that the follicles hang 
almost vertically downwards. On their dehiscing, a most remarkable state 
of affairs is revealed and one which is, Г believe, unique in our own flora ; 
instead of the seeds being detached singly from the placenta, they break 
away in one solid mass bound more or less tightly together by a thick 
continuous ventral strip of succulent tissue, which is of raphal origin. 
The mass is almost black, whereas the strip when fresh is a shining white ; 
sooner or later it falls out of its follicle and lies upon the ground, and its 
meaning and subsequent dispersal raise questions of considerable interest. 
It has been stated by F. Ludwig—and no one will deny it—that the mass 
resembles the larva of a beetle ; he believed that the ants were deceived by 
the mimicry, and that they broke it into its constituent seeds, which they 
then carried off. 
Sernander experimented with the separate seeds, and established beyond 
doubt that the ants take them away and that the white succulent oily tissue 
is the bait that attracts them : to such baits he gives the name of elaiosome, 
or © fat-body.” 
Г had seen the plant fruiting on some waste ground close to the Acton 
Cemetery in July 1899, whence Т have no doubt it had escaped, as it was at 
