1881, 



on Frnifs (lud Srrth 



niMi 



over tlic wliolc of South Africa, the seeds being carried in the wool 

 of slieep. From various considerations, however, it seems prol)abl(! 

 that in most cases tlic provision d(jes not eontem2)late a dispersion for 

 more than a sliort distance. 



I have already referred to the case of tlic Common Dandelion. 

 Hero the flower-stalk stands more or less upright while the flower is 

 expanded, a period which generally lasts for three or four days. It 



Fig. 1. 



Viilisneria spiralis. 

 n, frmalo fl^ver; h, male- flower; c, floatinp p<>llfn. 



then lowers itself, and lies more or less horizontally and concealed 

 during the time the seeds are maturing, which in our summers 

 occupies about twelve days. It then again rises, and, becoming almost 

 erect, facilitates the dispersion of the seeds, or, speaking botanically, 

 the fruits, by the wind. Some plants, as we shall see, even sow tlieii* 

 seeds in tlie ground, but these cases will be referred to later on. 



