872 THE DISPERSION" OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF FRUITS AND SEEDS. 



figs. 477 ^' *• ^), the nutlets of several Boraginacese (e.g. Echinosperrtiuin, Cynoglossum, 

 -and Caccinia; see figs. 477 ^> '^' ^^' ^'^), the several segments of the lomenta of jEschyno- 

 mene patula, the jointed siliquas of Tauscheria lasiocarpa, the schizocarps of some 

 species of the genera Äsperula and Galium (e.g. Galium Aparine; see figs. 477 ^ 

 and 477 "^), and the mericarps of many Umbelliferae (Caucalis, Daucus, Orlaya, 

 Sanicula, Torilis; see figs. 477 lo- 11.12, and figs. 478^). Other contrivances exist, but 

 are much rarer. Such are the bending of the sepals, when the fruit is ripe, so as to 

 convert the calyx into a claw, as in the genus Rochelia (see fig. 478 ^), the assump- 

 tion by the teeth of the fruiting calyx of the form of hooked prickles, as in 

 Valerianella echinata and V. hamata, Trifolium spumosum, Ballota rupestris, and 

 Marrubium vulgare (see fig. 478 ^), the presence on the achenes of Composites of 

 1, 2, 3, or 4 hooked prickles in the place of a feathery pappus, as in Bidens hipinnata 

 {see figs. 477^'' and 477^^), the barbed character of some perianth-bristles, as in Scirpus 

 lacustris, and the crowning of the hypanthium (expanded receptacle) with hooked 

 prickles, as in Agrimonia (see fig. 478^). As instances of the transformation of 

 involucral leaves into hooked bristles or prickles, we may mention Xanthium and 

 Lappa (see figs. 478^^ and 478^^); whilst Oryza clanclestina, Paspalum tenue, and 

 Lappago racemosa (see figs. 477^^ and 477^*) may be taken as representatives of 

 the Grasses whose glumes are furnished with similar appendages. 



Sometimes the entire fruit has the appearance of a claw, or is armed with large 

 barbs, by means of which it attaches itself to passing animals. This form of adapta- 

 tion is especially striking in the pods of Krameria triandra, Ornithopus, Biserrula, 

 Goronilla scorpioides, and Scorpiurus sulcata (see fig. 478 *). The achenes of several 

 Composites (e.g. Rhagadiolus stellatus and Koelpinea linearis) are claw-shaped, and 

 Koelpinea linearis is provided in addition with a crown of sharp, curved barbs at 

 the free extremity of each limb of the claw. In several species of the genus Geum, 

 of which Geum, urbanum, will serve as an example (see figs. 478 ^^ and 478 ^^), the 

 terminal portion of the segmented style breaks off" when the fruit is ripe, and the 

 remaining part becomes converted into a hooked spine which attaches itself to any 

 -object that happens to touch it. Similarly, hooked structures are developed from 

 the styles of several Ranunculacese and Pedaliaceae. Of the latter the most note- 

 worthy are the fruits of Martynias (Martynia lutea, M. proboscoidea, Szc), which 

 detach themselves from the herbaceous stem when the fruit is ripe — the stem being 

 by that time in a decaying condition — and lie loose upon the ground. Two long 

 •curved clasps, with sharp hooked ends somewhat like the horns of a chamois in 

 form, are developed from the styles, and by means of these the fruits cling to the 

 feet of animals which tread on them. Indeed the whole family Pedaliaceae is of 

 interest on account of its multifariously hooked fruits. In addition to Martynia 

 the already mentioned Harpagophytum belongs here, and several other genera, 

 including a Chinese aquatic, Trapella sinensis. In this plant the fruit is provided 

 with 3 long appendages wound up like watch-springs, which must readily hitch 

 themselves on to the legs of aquatic birds — or possibly even to Fishes — and in 

 addition 2 shorter, sharp, stiff spines, which no doubt preserve the fruits against 



