GERANIACE^ 



129 



unnecessary for the chamber to raise itself from the 

 central pillar, to 

 which, accordingly, 

 it remains close 

 until the moment 

 of disruption (Fig. 

 74, a). The seed- 

 chamber is, more- 

 over, held in place 

 by a short tongue, 

 which projects a 

 little way over its 

 base, while, on the 

 other hand, the 

 lower end of the 

 rod passes for a 

 short distance be- 

 tween the seed- Fi°-73. — Geranium cUssectum. a, just before tlirow- 

 1 J j.r, ™? ^^^'1 ' *' J"^* ^^^'^'' tlirowing seed ; c, the capsule 



capsule ana tne stUl attached to the rod ; d, the seed. 



central pillar. The 

 seed -capsule has 

 also near its apex a 

 curious tuft of silky 

 hair (Fig. 74, c), 

 the use of which I 

 will not here stop 

 to discuss. As the 

 result of all this 

 complex mechan- 

 ism, the seeds, when 

 ripe, are flung to 

 a distance which is 

 surprising when we 

 consider how small 

 the spring is. In 

 their natural habi- 

 tat it is almost im- 

 possible to find the 

 seeds when once thrown. I therefore brought some into 



K 



Fig. 74. — Geranium Roiertianum. a, just before 

 throwing the seed ; b, the rod thrown off ; c, the 

 carpel and seed. 



