1881.] 



on Fruits and Seeds. 



GOl 



in which the corolla is either absent or imperfectly developed. The 

 stamens also are small, but contain pollen, though less than in tlie 

 colored flowers. In the autumn large numbers of these curious 

 flowers are i)rodueed. "When very young they resemble an ordinary 

 flower-bud (Figs. 2 and 3 a), the central part of the flower being 

 entirely covered by the sepals, and the whole having a triangular form. 

 When older (Figs. 2 and 3 h) they look at lirst sight like an ordinary 

 seed-capsule, so that the bud seems to pass into the capsule without 

 the flower-stage. The pansy violets do not possess these interesting 

 flowers. In the Sweet Violet ( V. odorata and V. hiria, Fig. 2) they 

 may easily be found, by searching among the leaves, nestling close to 

 the ground. It is often said, for instance by Vaucher, that the plants 



Fig. 3. 



}'io[a en lima, 

 a, bud ; h, bud more advanced ; c, capsule open, some of the seeds are already thrown. 



actually force these capsules into the ground, and thus sow their own 

 seeds. I have not, however, found this to be the case, though as the 

 stalk elongates, and the point of tlie capsule turns downwards, if the 

 earth be loose and uneven, it will no doubt sometimes so happen. 

 When the seeds are fully ripe, the capsule ojDcns by three valves and 

 allows them to escape. 



In the Dog Violet ( V. canina, Fig. 3) the case is very different. 

 The capsules are less fleshy, and though pendent when young, at 



