88 FRUITS AND SEEDS 



what fleshy and resembles the drupes, but the fleshy part is of 

 an entirely different origin from that of the true drupes. 



Fig Type. There are some fruits which are difficult to 

 classify in any of the preceding groups and must be distin- 

 guished by special names. Among the most important is the 

 synconium or fig fruit which is derived from an enlarged, soft, 

 hollow stem enclosing a large number of very small flowers 

 which are never exposed. Many people believe the fig produces 

 fruit without blooming, but this is not true. 



Seed Distribution. If seeds are to fulfill their place in 

 nature they must be distributed over a considerable range of 

 country. If they are all dropped within the immediate vicin- 

 ity of the parent plant, the new plants will be too crowded, the 

 weaker cannot survive, and the vigor of both parent and off- 

 spring will be impaired. Seeds are mostly carried by wind 

 and water, by animals and by man. It is very evident to the 

 most casual observer that of the enormous quantities of seeds 

 produced by a single plant, very few can ever serve their primary 

 purpose in nature, that of producing new plants. The majority 

 will be eaten by animals, or will fall in unfavorable places where 

 they cannot germinate, while many of those that do germinate 

 will never grow to maturity. (Fig. 65.) 



Carried by Water. It is very easy to understand how seeds 

 can be carried from place to place by water. Those that are 

 buoyant will be carried along by streams, or float over the 

 surfaces of lakes. Those that will not float may be carried along 

 in the mud and debris. Heavy rainfall will carry many seeds 

 for considerable distances and will frequently cover them with 

 earth. Seeds that float are frequently propelled by wind and 

 carried for long distances over lakes and other large bodies of 

 water. Seeds from plants growing near the salt water will 

 frequently be carried for long distances by means of water and 

 wind and find a resting place on other shores. Of course, it is 



