DISPERSAL BY SHAKING AND BY WATER 



441 



three feet high and six feet in diameter, and carries not less 

 than 200,000 seeds. 



417. Many-seeded pods with small openings. There are 

 many fruits which act somewhat like pepper boxes. The cap- 

 sule of the poppy is a good instance of this kind, and the fruit of 

 lily, monkshood (Fig. 159), columbine, larkspur, velvet leaf (Abu- 

 tilonAvicennce), and jimson weed (Fig. 343, C) acts in much the 

 same way. Clamping the dry peduncle of any one of these ripe 



FIG. 341. Tumbleweeds 1 lodged against a wire fence in winter 

 After Millspaugh 



fruits, so as to hold it upright above the table top, and swinging 

 it back and forth, will readily show its efficiency in seed dispersal. 

 418. Study of transportation by water. Nothing less than a 

 long series of observations by the pond margin and the brook- 

 side will suffice to show how general and important is the work 

 done by water in carrying the seeds of aquatics. Many plants 

 usually have their seeds transported by water, and some appear 

 to have no provision for dissemination in any other way. 



^Amarantus albus. 



