42 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



that when the job of seed dispersal has been completely ac- 

 complished, the remaining portion of the fruit consists of a cen- 

 tral column crowned with five tiny spirals. 



Authorities on the distribution of plants in the United 

 States assert that the Siberian crane's-bill occurs in but two 

 other localities in this country. It is frequent on Manhattan 

 Island, New York, being especially common along the road- 

 sides on the outskirts of New York City, and has also been re- 

 ported from California. How it came to State College is a 

 mystery to the writer, though it could have been brought in a 

 variety of ways. It is possible that someone, taking a fancy to 

 the pretty little plant found growing wild in New York, 

 brought some seeds to State College with the intentions of 

 cultivating it and that the plant escaped from cultivation. It 

 is even possible that a single seed might have been cast upon 

 the clothes of a passerby, a feat readily accomplished by the 

 explosive action of the fruits. This single seed would be 

 sufficient to start the plant in State College. It is a known 

 fact that exhibitions and other gathering places where people 

 assemble from all corners of the earth are frequently followed 

 by epidemics of new weeds brought in from foreign countries. 

 The seeds which start these new plants are usually introduced 

 on the clothes of visitors. Russian Thistle is said to have been 

 introduced into this country in that way. 



The original home of the Siberian Crane's-bill is Asia. 

 It will be of great interest to watch for the future spread of 

 this new arrival on our hospitable shores, since the plant now 

 appears to be well established and spreading. Another feature 

 which adds interest, is the possibilities which the plant offers 

 as a weed, suggested by the rather heavy and persistant root 

 and the rapidity of its spread. 



