358 FRUITS AND SEEDS 



Animals of the same kind tend to frequent similar regions. 

 Seed is likely to be dropped in the kind of place in which 

 its parent grew. This applies to seeds carried involun- 

 tarily as well as to those eaten. Thus, for example, wad- 

 ing birds (see page 64) fly from swamp to swamp, and 

 grazing animals keep largely to one kind of land. 



The most useful animals in seed dispersal (not consider- 

 ing man and his planted crops) are such birds as the robins, 

 thrushes, and blackbirds. They eat fleshy fruits in abun- 

 dance and through their alimentary tracts the seeds pass 

 uninjured. 



QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 



Section 65. 1. State the general functions of fruits and seeds. 

 2. Explain why seed "germination "is not true germination. 3. Con- 

 trast, as to advantages, small seeds with large seeds. 4. Upon the 

 basis of the part of the plant transported, what are three kinds of 

 seed dispersal? Give examples. 5. Describe akenes and grains, 

 defining pericarp and testa. 



Section 66. 1. Discuss the general nature of fruits. 



A. 2. Explain three principal ways in which fruits aid in the dis- 

 persal of seeds. 



B. 3. Explain the difficulties in classifying fruits. 



C. 4. Define dehiscent fruits, giving two examples. 5. Define 

 indehiscent fruits, giving six examples. 6. Define the term berry, 

 and give examples. 



D. 7. Compare dry and fleshy fruits as to commercial importance. 



E. 8. Explain what is meant by inflorescence fruits and give ex- 

 amples. 



F. 9. Describe the structure and behavior of the fruit of porcupine 

 grass. 



G. 10. Discuss seedlessness in fruits. 



Section 67. 1. Discuss the general nature of seeds. 

 A. 2. Discuss the importance of seeds to man. 



