lOO 



SAGACITY AND MORALITY OF PLANTS. 



become juicy to induce birds to swallow it In its 

 natural state its size is about the same as that of the 

 real wild fruits above mentioned. The so-called 

 " seeds " scattered all over the sur- 

 face of the strawberry are in reality 

 genuine fruits^ consisting of husk and 

 seed. Each is a true nut, although 

 of almost microscopic size, with the 

 kernel or real seed within. The 

 Fig 45. -Strawberry j^ygi^g ^j-g homv, and admirably 



f, shows positions of ^ ' •' 



true fruits on the adapted to protcct their charge ; and 



globular succulent 



receptacle. both pass out of thc bodics of birds 



in practically an unaltered condition. Even their 

 smallness is of advantage to them, in enabling large 

 numbers to be swallowed at a single mouthful, just 

 as children are induced to swallow nauseous pills in 

 the spoonful of jam which masks them ! 



The sweet part in a dried fig is similar to the 

 pulpy part of the straw- 

 berry. It is a receptacle 

 turned outside in, and all 

 the so-called " seeds " of 

 the fig, minute though 

 they are, are true botani- 

 cal fruits, comprising husk 

 and seed. As in the 

 strawberry, these numer- 

 ous fruits of the fig gain by their smallness. 



The hips of our hedgerows are a more elaborate 



Fig. 46. — Section of fig ; a, receptacle ; 

 h, male flower ; c, female flower. 



