The Seed's Travelling Outfit 187 



push out the seeds, and they go sailing, sometimes miles 

 away. 



Epilobium of the Evening Primrose family has seeds similarly 

 provided. 



The seeds of the South African Proteaceae do not escape 

 from the ovaries, which are variously fitted for aerial navigation. 

 Protea ovaries have at the base long tufts of silky hairs 



Fig. 186. — Urospermum. The fruits travel in dry weather. 



which are caught by the wind. The seeds of the Silver Tree 

 appropriate the whole perianth for a sail, which is prettily 

 fringed along the edges. As the fruit enlarges the lower part 

 of the perianth is split open and run up on the style for a 

 mast, where the little knob of a stigma keeps it from slipping 

 off. It must be that many a craft is wrecked for, besides the 

 trees on Table Mountain and Devil's Peak, few have found 

 anchor. Some have found a haven beneath the shelter of 



