150 GEOGRAPHICAL STATISTICS OF THE EUROPEAN FLORA. 
in which also the indehiscent fruit was found to be accompanied by a 
somewhat higher average :-— 
Species. Average. 
3498 with indehiscent fruit. . _ - 2°66 
2889 ,, dehiscent . ‘ ‘ ; ~ 2°52 
Special adaptation.—It is strange that plants bearing fruit to all 
appearances specially adapted for dispersion, being either provided 
wit a ili 
win 
enabling it to cling to the coats of animals, should have an average 
specific area less than that of other plants; but such was the con- 
clusion arrived at by Prof. De Candolle, such the result of the 
Seetéstigalion, respecting British plants, and such is again that of the 
eeecat i nau iry. 
Avene 
‘S10. ith pappus or cae feathery seen rs bs 
6 appling or, 
9 
5527 ,, fruit not sreally adapted . ; ; 60 
some eee by themselves, the figures are :— 
Average. 
Bo. with pappus . ‘ : ‘ . 2:10 
265 without pappus ; . : : — 24 
VII. Disperston AccoRDING TO CHARACTER OF THE SEED.— Coma. 
While feathery organs on the fruit are thus found not to confer an ex- 
tensive range, the case is otherwise with the coma, that answers the 
same purpose as a pappus, and is attached to the seeds of ee 
many Asclepiadacew, and some genera of other Orders. 
was shown by Prof. De Candolle and in my former paper to obs 
accompanied by a high soe es of dispersion, and the following 
averages are acer corroborative 
Species. Average. 
"9 eet comose seeds . : : é ee yg 
6534 seeds not comose ‘ ; o" 269 
Size.—-It t was found impossible to draw the line between British 
plants with large and those with small seeds, the — in size bein 
so gradual. The same difficulty is experienced with Continental 
ing Orders of Phanerogams. The difference between the two is very 
slight :— 
Species. Average. 
1847 belonging to small-seeded Orders. iy SSe 
4136 = 5 Oe ey i an ee 
Number.—The production of numerous seeds has been considered 
an n advantage likely to lead to wide —. Amongst British 
<4 
