PROTECTION OF RIPENING SEEDS AGAINST ANIMALS. 



445 



quarters in the abode of man, strewed the ground in my garden with Rose-hips of 

 an evening. Invariably, next morning, I found that they had been gnawed and 

 demolished by mice, whilst those remaining in situ on the plants were untouched. 

 The fruits of several dwarf Palms are similarly defended against the attacks of 

 animals, by zones of spines upon the stem, prickles upon the floral investments, &c. 

 The berries of several shrubby Solanaceae (e.g. Solanum sodomceum, and S. 

 sisymbriifolium) gain a like protection, as do those of the Blackberry, from 

 numerous prickles which clothe the stem and even the fruit-stalk and calyx. In 



Mimosa hispidula. 



Fig. 339. Protection of ripening seeds against the attack of animals. 

 2 Schrankia. Matthiola tricuspidata. * Castanea vulgaris. * Centrolobium robustum. 



several members of the Gorse genus, Ulex Gallii, imcranthus, and nanus, the pods 

 are borne upon branches which bristle with spines. The spines project beyond the 

 pods, and their sharp points being directed downwards, mice are prevented from 

 climbing up and working havoc. 



Other animals besides these rodents, such as caterpillars, snails, earwigs, centi- 

 pedes, and the like, have to be warded off. Some caterpillars find the green ovaries 

 acceptable as food, others the seeds themselves. Still, as we have seen, it is of 

 direct advantage to several Caryophyllacese, Leguminosaa, and species of Yucca, 

 that a portion of the seeds should fall to the lot of insect-larvae (cf. pp. 153-161). 

 It may be repeated here that prickles and spines, the points of which are directed 

 upwards, serve to protect the foliage against browsing animals (cf. vol. i. p. 432). 

 In the above-mentioned case of the Gorse, the spines towards the tips of the 



