The Herb Robert 



structure, from which both petals and stamens have 

 now disappeared, raises itself into an almost upright 

 position. Five seeds, each enclosed in a capsule, 

 lie round the base of the column, and each capsule 

 projects upward into a rod-like structure that lies 

 along the column. A short tongue keeps the seed- 

 capsule in place for the time being. The general 

 appearance of geranium fruits at this stage has 

 given the genus the name of " Crane's-bill "{geranos, 

 a crane). Probably, too, it accounts for "Adder's 

 Tongue," a name that it sometimes bears. 



Naturally, as the central column grows the 

 upward rods of the capsules are greatly stretched, 

 their outer fibres being apparently in a state of 

 greater tension than their inner. Presently their 

 resistance is overcome, they give way one by one 

 at the base, and curl up rapidly outwards. The 

 capsules containing the seeds are shot violently off 

 as if from a pop-gun, not necessarily all at the same 

 moment, and the rods which held them likewise 

 become detached. " In their natural habitat," 



67 49 



