THE LIFE OF PLANTS. 
By THE RicHt Hon. THE Lorpd AveEBuRY, P.C., F.R.S. (Sir Jonwn Lussocr). 
Showing why flowers are of different colours; why they go to sleep: why some keep different hours from others; 
and the devices they use for procuring their food. 
PART I. 
| Reeee and seeds are scarcely less interesting, and often hardly less beautiful than 
flowers. They present many most interestimg contrivances and adaptations. I 
will only deal with the means by which they are dispersed. Some, like the dandelion, 
willow herb, cotton, cotton grass, &c., are provided with hairs—often feathered—by 
which the wind wafts them away. Others are provided with wings for the same 
purpose. Some, like the cleavers, docks, agrimony, burrs (Fig. 1) are covered with hooks 
which catch in the fur of any passing quadruped. Some are good to eat. Many of 
them sacrifice themselves for the good of the rest. Take the hazel nuts, for mstance. 
Thousands of them are eaten by squirrels, but many are dropped, or lost, and thus 
carried to a distance. In many cases, as in apples, cherries, peaches, grapes, currants, &c., 
there is a sweet and juicy flesh which is carried about and eaten, while the actual 
seeds are protected by a more or less thick crust and are thrown away. In these 
cases it 1s interesting that very often the unripe fruits are green and unattractive, 
while, when mature, they assume brilliant colours, which seem an invitation to the feast ! 
In some instances plants actually throw their seeds; this is the case with some 
violets, peas, geraniums and many others. The distance to which they can be thrown 
is often very remarkable. I tried to ascertain this in the case of our common 
herb, Robert (Fig. 2). In the open air this pacers ee 
cannot be done, for it is impossible to find 23 
the seed when once thrown. I therefore 
brought some into the house and put them 
in a glass on a table. Still I could not 
find them. At last, by spreading out a large 
sheet, I was able to do so, and found they 
were thrown more than 20 feet.* 
Other plants sow thew own seeds, 
for which most imgenious contrivances are 
provided. Some of our violets do so. I have 
already mentioned the dog violet (Fig. 3) 
as one of the plants which throws its seeds. 
Other violets bury them (Fig. 4). What is 
the reason for this difference of habit? I 
have elsewhere suggested that it depends on 
the mode of growth. The dog violet has a 
stalk, and the flowers are thus more or less 
raised above the ground. In the species 
which bury their seeds there is practically 
no stem, the flower rises directly from the 
ground. Under these circumstances if the 
plant attempted to shoot its seeds, they would 
merely strike against some neighbourmg | 
leaf and immediately fall to the ground. ~ Fig. 1. 
BU pock : 
* See my “ Flowers, Fruits, and Leaves,” p. 58 (Macmillan). 
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