50 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



VIII. 

 THE DISPERSION OF SEEDS AND SPORES. 



BY REV. ALEX. S. WILSON, M.A., B.SC. 



PAR T I. 



[Read 25th September. 1888.] 



The geographical range of any species of plant, as 

 well as the continuance of the species, depends, in 

 large measure, upon the power of the plant to 

 distribute its seeds over a wide area. As the earth 

 is already everywhere stocked with vegetation, no 

 openings are available for developing seeds save 

 . those which death annually causes in the ranks of 

 vegetable organisms. Only a limited number of 

 recruits, so to speak, is required every year to keep 

 np the strength of Flora's regiments, and for every 

 vacancy there is a spirited contest among the 

 numerous candidates. So vast, indeed, is the number 

 of seeds produced by plants in comparison with the 

 numbers attaining maturity, that the struggle for 

 existence is probably nowhere keener than among 

 seeds. 



Any peculiarity about a seed, then, which favours 

 its chance of finding an appropriate spot in which 

 to germinate, must be of the very highest import- 

 ance in relation to the life of the species. The 

 arrangements for facilitating the transport of seeds 

 present considerable variety, and offer one of the 

 most inviting fields of research in botanical science. 

 In order to make our survey as comprehensive as 

 possible, it will be necessary to include the means 



