ADAPTATIOX.S FOR DISl'EKSAI. OF FRUIT & SEKDS 211 



a new channel of interest to ^lenibers bnt may also jxn'nt 

 to a profitable line of observation and investigation. 



In almost all acconnts on this subject based on tlie 

 Sonth African flora, certain stereotyped examples are 

 given and the present paper is not free from this fault. 

 It will only be whien observers stationed in various 

 parts of the countrj^ can be induced to accurately record 

 their observations and either publish these as '' Natural 

 History Notes " or forward their records to some central 

 authorit}^, that a scientific and detailed account of the 

 various adaptations found in the fruits and seeds of our 

 native plants Avill be written. 



All the higher plants, i.e. the plants met with on 

 montain or veld have one character in common — they 

 remain throughout their lives on the spot where the 

 seed germinated. In this respect they are unlike animals 

 which have the power of free locomotion. As plants are 

 stationary it becomes imperative that the fruits and seeds 

 produced by them should be scattered the greatest pos- 

 sible distance from the parent If this was not done there 

 would be an un-natural crowding of individuals of the 

 same species within a very limited area, all requiring 

 the same conditions of light, moisture and mineral food 

 and in the fierce competition that would result among the 

 individuals the species would suffer. It is to prevent this 

 congestion of individuals, that we find in nature a multi- 

 tudinous variety of devices for carrying the seeds away 

 from the parent plant. 



It is unfortunate that when plants are in the fruit- 

 ing and seeding stage they do not attract the same 

 attention as they do when in flower. They nevertheless 

 deserve the same or rather more notice and this will 

 usually be amply repaid by the beautiful contrivances 

 often met with for dispersal. 



Not every seed set by a plant will germinate, many do 

 not alight on suitable spots for germination and many are 

 destroyed by animals. If only a very small percentage of 



