112 CARPOLOOY: FUNCTIONS AND STRUCTURE OF THE FRUIT 



degree of adaptation secured by the peanut is still further illustrated 

 by its apparent power to support itself by means of these buried 

 branches, should the parent stem in any way become severed; a very 

 important protection, in view of the highly nutritious character of the 

 herbage, which renders it liable to partial destruction by grazing 

 animals. 



J/J. 



Fig. 313. Peanut plant, with buried fruits. 



The Fixation of Fruits after Distribution. — The fixation of many fruits 

 with their contained seeds is secured by a series of devices no less 

 interesting than those which effect their distribution. Fruits like those 

 represented in Figs. 75, 76, etc., are commonly more or less sharpened 

 or narrowed at the lower end, which is much the heavier, so that they 

 shall the more readily penetrate a fa^•orable surface. Their bodies, 

 moreover, are commonly toothed or hispid upward, so that the tendency 

 is for them to sink more and more deeply until properly interred. The 

 fruit of Viscuvi, whose seed can develop only upon the bark of trees, 



