151 DISPERSAL OF SEEDS, 
The next plant, the Balsam (Impatiens) is, I think, possessed of 
greater power of throwing its seeds to a distance than any other 
plant in this county. We have one native species, Impatiens No.i- 
ME-TANGERE, and many foreign culivated species. The capsule is 
five-celled, each one with a very elastic side. The seeds are attached 
to a central column; it is elongated, tapering towards the apex. 
When ripe the slightest touch will cause it to, 1 might almost say, 
explode, the five elastic sides instantly curl up and cause the seeds 
to fly for some yards. 
When a ripe capsule is touched the discharge can be easily heard 
by a person standing close to the plant, so great is the force exerted 
by the elastic sides at the moment of ‘“ explosion.” 
The seeds are smooth, black, and somewhat like a small bean in 
shape. 
The genus Geranium has several interesting species, discharging 
their seeds with a spring arrangement. 
The Herb Robert (GERANIUM RoBeERTIANUM) has the flowers 
erect, but as soon as they fade the central column, with the five 
seeds attached at the base, elongates, the sepals close over, and the 
flowering stalk turns downwards. Each seed is enclosed in a little 
sac, with an elongated rod-like spring, which reaches to the apex of 
the column. As the seeds ripen they rise to an upright position. 
When quite ripe the rod-like extensions of the sacs containing the 
seeds are in a state of great tension, and detach themselves with a 
sharp jerk, throwing the seed to some distance, at the same time 
detaching the rod or spring from the apex of the central column. 
The sac containing the seed has a small tuft of long hairs near its 
apex. It is quite astonishing the distance that this mechanism will 
throw the seeds, often as much as 20 ft. 
GERANIUM DIssEcTUM (the jagged-leaved Crane’s-bill) has @ 
slightly different method of disposing of its seeds. In this case the 
