150 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



When walking through the veld, we come home with our 

 clothing covered with "burrs." As we pick them off the 

 seeds are scattered far from home. Take a little time before 

 throwing them away to see by what ingenious methods they 

 have attached themselves. The spirally twisted legumes of 

 Medicago are furnished with a border of firm little grappling 

 hooks. The two sharp-pointed awns of Bidens pierce our 

 clothing, and the reflexed bristles prevent them from brushing 

 off again. Fruits of Burr Weed (Xanthium) and Klis Grass 

 {Panicmn verticillastre) become very troublesome when the 

 fruits become fastened into the wool of sheep or goats. Fig. 



167 shows the "wool spiders" 

 of the "Grappling Plant" 

 ( Uncaria prociunbens). 



Seeds of orchids and 

 Streptocarpiis are so light 

 that a breath of wind will 

 blow them away. 



The whole plant of 



Brunsvigia breaks off close 



to the ground, goes rolling 



f over the veld, scattering the 



^rGSp7i!;t«"'^r"'vi;oot'^rd:o ^ard, smooth seeds as it 



tumbles along. 



Many seeds are covered with an edible pulp, and so are 

 scattered by birds or other animals. 



One little species of Mistletoe (Viscum inininmm) is inde- 

 pendent of any putside aid. It grows as a parasite on 

 Euphorbia. The stem is less than half an inch high, and 

 bears three flower^. The large berries grow several times the 

 length of the stem. When they are ripe, without falling from 

 the stem, they each send out a long radicle which turns around 

 and plants itself upon the same Euphorbia. 



Some fruits explode and send their fruits forcibly away. 

 A choice legume was ready to be mounted on a herbarium 

 sheet ; suddenly it exploded, twisted back, and all but one 

 seed disappeared. Euphorbia fruits similarly set up quite a 

 bombardment when they are ripe. 



