n GERANIACE^ 127 



On the contrary, it forms a distinct tube, the entrance 

 to which is sufficiently protected against rain by the 

 stamens and pistil. 



In G. sylvaticum, besides the usual complete flowers, 

 there are, according to Lindman, smaller ones in which 

 the stamens are more or less abortive ; while Schulz has, 

 in South Tyrol, found others in which the pistil is wanting. 

 These are of large size ; but on the higher Scandinavian 

 mountains Eckstam has observed male flowers of small 

 size. 



A popular name for the Geranium — Crane's Bill — 

 refers to the long beak of the fruit, which is part 

 of the curious arrangement for the dispersal of the 

 seeds. In G. Robertianum (Herb Robert), for in- 

 stance, after the flower has faded, the central axis 

 gradually elongates (Fig. 72, c, d, e). The seeds, five 

 in number, are situated at the base of the column, each 

 being enclosed in a capsule, which terniinates 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. 72, e) ; the outer layers of the rod-like 

 termination of the seed capsule come to be in a state of 

 great tension, and eventually detach the rod with a 

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

 72, /, represents the central rod after the seeds have 

 been thrown. In some species, as, for instance, in 

 G. dissectum (Fig. 73), the capsule rod remains 

 attached to the central column, and the seed only is 

 ejected. It will be remembered that the capsule 

 opens on its inner side ; hence if the carpel merely 

 bursts outwards the only effect will be that the 

 seed will be forced against the outer wall of the carpel 

 and not be ejected, because the opening is not on the 

 outer but on the inner side. This difficulty has been 

 overcome in different ways. In some species, as, for 

 instance, in G. dissectum, a short time before the 

 dehiscence, the seed -chamber places itself at right 

 angles to the pillar (Fig. 73, a). The edges then 



