HOW SEEDS AND FRUITS ARE SCATTERED 41 



gotten, to grow later. Such are a few of the ways in which seeds 

 are scattered. All other things being equal, the plants best 

 equipped to scatter seeds or fruits will drive out other plants in 

 a given locality. Because of their adaptations these plants are 

 likely to be very numerous, and for that reason some of them are 

 likely to survive when unfavorable conditions come. Such plants 

 are well exemplified in the weeds of the grass plots and gardens. 



The development of an apple. Notice that in this fruit additional parts besides 

 the ovary (o) become part of the fruit. Certain outer parts of the flower, the sepals 

 (s) and receptacle, become the fleshy part of the fruit, while the ovary becomes the 

 core. Stages numbered 2 to 6 are in the order of development. 



Summary. — This chapter has brought out several important 

 facts. First, plant life and animal life are closely interrelated, in 

 that insects feed upon plants, make their homes in them, lay their 

 eggs on their leaves or in their bodies, and in other ways depend 

 on them. But the plant often gets something in return from this 

 close association ; many flowers can form seeds only after pollina- 

 tion by an insect visitor. Finally, although the plant may scatter 

 its seeds without outside aid, we find many cases where animals are 

 of assistance in this dispersal, again showing an interrelationship 

 without which certain plants might be doomed to extinction. 



Problem Questions * 



1. What is a normal environment ? 



2. How would you distinguish an insect from other animals? 



3. What are the distinguishing characteristics of several orders of insects? 



