88 TYPICAL FLOWERS OF ALPINE PASTURES 



Bell-flowers will, on examination, prove instructive 

 objects. The fruit has the form termed a capsule, 

 and contains many seeds. Just as the flower is 

 directed mouth downwards, so the fruit is inverted. 

 The base of the capsule becomes the top and its 

 apex the bottom of the fruit. The capsule remains 

 attached to the plant, and instead of 

 the walls of the ovary or capsule 

 splitting apart and thus exposing the 

 seeds, as is the case in many other 

 plants, for instance, the Violet (p. 162), 

 three to five small triangular flaps or 

 valves will be found near the base 

 that is, at the top of the inverted 

 fruit. These flaps are very sensitive 

 to moisture, closing in wet weather, 

 an d curling backwards when the air 

 j s <jry. When the seeds are ripe 

 and the air * the valves curl 



through which the backwards, and the seeds are shaken 



seeds escape. ' . 



out or the capsule by the wind, 

 through the triangular clefts, often with considerable 

 force, and they are thus spread to a considerable 

 distance from the parent. 



We have so far only discussed Campanula rotundi- 

 folia and C. Scheuchzeri. There are, however, some 

 seven other species to be found in the Alpine zone, 

 and one occurring rarely in the High Alps. None of 

 the British species, with the exception of the Harebell, 

 are found above 5,000 feet in Switzerland. Many of 



