CHAPTER XXIII. 

 SEED DISPERSAL. 



348. Necessity for distribution of seed. While the forma- 

 tion of seed is the end towards which the energy of the plant is 

 directed, this energy would be almost wholly misspent were there 

 no means for the distribution of the seed over the surface of the 

 earth. Were there no means for the natural distribution of seed, 

 the seed would fall to the ground from the plant where it was pro- 

 duced. Extension of the plant over new territory would only 

 progress so far as the branches reached. This would be tedious 

 and very slow and would not enable the plant to multiply itself 

 rapidly enough to maintain its hold. The present wide distri- 

 bution and great variety of plant life on the globe would have been 

 impossible. 



349. To succeed in filling their place in nature plants must 

 be in a position to throw vast quantities of seed into any territory 

 which becomes unoccupied, or into new territory each year. 

 Since they do not possess the intelligence of man whereby they 

 might discover unoccupied territory and bend their energies to 

 placing their seed there, it is necessary that vast quantities of seed 

 be produced each year, and left to the natural means of distri- 

 bution. In this way plants are sending out seed every year in all 

 directions, so that it may be ready to produce new plants when- 

 ever opportunity offers. 



350. Natural means for distribution of plants. The 

 natural means for the distribution of plants over the earth is a 

 subject of great interest and importance, and should have due 

 consideration in the study of plants. While studying seeds and 

 fruits in the laboratory especial attention should be given to those 

 structures and peculiarities which assist in the distribution of 

 the seed. In excursions to the fields, forests, or parks, instructive 



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