FRUITS AND THEIR USES 



55 



in the follicle of the milkweed, a fruit which siilits along the odge of one 

 vaho, the pod or Ichkiiic of a pea and the Iw'an, and the aipsule of 

 Junson weed and tho oxoning primrose. In all of the above, Iho ovary 

 wall does not split opt'u until the seeds are fully ripe. 

 This helps to insure the future growth of tho seed. 

 Some dehiscent fruits scatter their seeds through tho 

 explosion of the seed case. Such a fruit is the witch- 

 hazel, which explodes with such force that the seeds arc 

 tlu-o\\ai se\'eral feet. The \\ild geranium, a fl\-e-loculed 

 capsule, spUts along the edge of each locule, snaps back, 

 and throws the seed for some distance. Jewelweed 

 fruits burst open in somewhat the same manner. 



/Ail 



Capsule of crane's- 

 bill discharging 

 its seed. 



f/fWinged Seeds.- — Tltc seeds of the pine, held 

 underneatli the st'ales of the cone, are prolonged 

 "inxo mngs, \\hich aid in their dispersal. The seeds of many of 

 yjur trees are thus scattered. 



Other Methods^ — Sometimes whole plants are carried by the 

 high winds of the fall. This is effected in the plant,s called tumble- 

 weeds, in which the plant body, as it dries, assumes a somewhat 

 spherical shape. The main stalk breaks off, and the plant may 



then be blown along the ground, 

 scattering seeds as it goes, until 

 it is ultimatel}^ stopped by a 

 fence or bush. A single plant 

 of Russian thistle may thus 

 scatter over two hundred thou- 

 sand seeds. 



Seeds or fruits (for example, 

 the coconut) may fall into the 

 water and be carried thousands 

 of miles to their new resting 

 place, the fibrous husk provid- 

 ing a boat in which the seed 

 is earri(>(l. 



Otiier seeds may collect in 

 the mud along tht- banks of 

 ponds or streams. Birds which come there to feed upon these and 

 other material iit the nmd may earr.\- nian\' seeds in tlH> nuid 

 attached to their feet. The great Enghsh naturalist, Charles 



Crosn section of a encount in its librous 

 husk. 



