1 82 Fruits and Seeds. 



the cen.tral axis gradually lengthens (fig. 68, c d). 

 The seeds, five in number, are situated at the base 

 of the column, each being enclosed in a capsule, 

 which terminates upwards in a rod-like portion, 

 which at first forms part of the central axis, but 

 gradually detaches itself. When the seeds are ripe 

 the ovary raises itself into an upright position (fig. 

 68, e) ; the outer layers of the rod-like termination 

 of the seed-capsule come to be in a state of great 

 tension, and eventually (fig. 70) detach the rod with 

 a jerk, and thus throw the seed some little distance. 

 Fig. 68, f, represents the central rod after the seeds 

 have been thrown. In some species, as for instance 

 in the Cut-leaved Geranium (fig. 69), the capsule- 

 rod remains attached to the central column and the 

 seed only is ejected. 



2. It will, however, be remembered that the cap- 

 sule is, as already observed, a leaf folded on itself, 

 with the edges inwards, and in fact, in the Geranium, 

 the seed-chamber opens on its inner side. You will, 

 therefore, naturally observe to me that when the 

 carpel bursts outwards, the only effect would be 

 that the seed would be forced against the outer 

 wall of the carpel, and that it would not be ejected, 

 oecause the opening is not on the outer but on the 

 inner side. Your remark is perfectly just, but the 

 difficulty has been foreseen by our Geraniums, and 

 is overcome by them in different ways. In some 

 species, as for instance in the Cut-leaved Geranium, 

 a short time before the opening of the pods, the 



