TROP^OLUM. 95 



The Seed appears in (5) to be anatropous ; in (6) and 

 (7), dicotyledonous, without albumen, the large straight 

 embryo filling the testa. (8) is the naked embryo. 



The Name. — In this connection, let the Garden Balsam 

 be analyzed. Though very different in general aspect, we 

 shall find that the above description of the Jewel- weed 

 applies to it in almost everything but color and clothing. 

 Both are species of the genus Impdtiens (impatient). The 

 Jewel-weed is /. fulva (Nuttall), the Balsamine, /. Balsamlna 

 (Linn.).* 



Classification. — How do these plants resemble the 

 Gerania ? — In their tumid nodes, 5-parted flowers, 5-carpelled 

 fruit, elastic carpels, central axis, and in the spurred lotver 

 sepal, here free from the pedicel while in Storkbills adher- 

 ing to it. These are marks of the Order Geraniaceae. 



XXIII. THE NASTURTION, OR INDIAN CRESS. 



Description. — This old and popular garden flower 

 assumes a style of beauty intermediate between the Gerania 

 and the Jewel-weed. It is a native of Peru, whence it was 

 brought nearly 200 years ago. Its study will reveal several 

 new forms of structure, both in leaf and flower. It is an 

 annual herb, or with protection, biennial; but the root per- 



this purpoge. Tick-seeds and Burr-seeds arc provided with hooks and barbs by which 

 they lay hold of men and animals and are thus, by unwilling agents, scattered far and 

 wide. The seeds of Thistle, Dandelion, Silkgrass, made buoyant by means of their 

 downy appendages, are wafted afar, beyond rivers, lakes ;ind seas. The Squirting 

 Cucumber, as it ripens, becomes distended with water until at last it breaks from its 

 stem and projects through the rui)ture, with amazing force, the mingled seeds and 

 water. Rivers and Ocean currents are always transjjorting se«ds from country to 

 country. Thus the Cocoa and the Cashew nut and the seeds of Mahogany have been 

 known to perform lonir voyages without injury to their vitality. Sciuirrels laying up 

 their winter stores in the earth, birds migrating from clime to clime and from island 

 to island, conspire to effect the same important end. 



* Only 2 species are native in N. .America. 1 in Europe. 1 in Siberia. 1 in Madacras- 

 car, and 100 in India. All are " remarkable for the elastic bursting valves of their 

 pods. 



