Notes. 
Garden. As it is intended to discuss the biology of the flower 
in a forthcoming paper, the fruit only need be considered here. 
After fertilisation, the peduncle of the flower, previously erect, bends 
downwards through about i8o°, and again becomes erect when the 
fruit is ripe. The persistent green calyx encloses the fruit, which 
(Fig. i) is a small oval or spherical capsule, splitting loculicidally into 
three valves. It contains usually, in its single loculus, three seeds, 
which lie, forming a triangle, one across each of the slits between the 
valves (Fig. 2). They are ovoid in shape, rather more convex on the 
outer side; the surface is slightly tuberculate, but is very slippery, 
possessing a high polish. 
The valves fall back after dehiscence until the seeds are fully 
exposed, and as they become dry their sides move inwards, towards 
one another, just as occurs in the fruit of the Violet. The effect is at 
first to press the seeds tightly against one another, until presently the 
resistance to slipping, offered by their tuberculate surfaces, is over- 
come. When this happens, one of the seeds, probably whichever 
happens to stand the highest, is shot out. In some cases two are 
ejected together, or even the whole three. Those which remain 
behind usually fall into the jaws of the still closing valves, and are 
finally ejected by these when the pressure becomes considerable. 
The distance to which the seeds are thrown is usually from a metre 
to a metre and a half. This was determined by allowing specimens 
to explode on a smooth table and noting the point where the seed 
first touched it after ejection. 
After the explosion the valves are completely folded in upon them- 
selves, one side usually overlapping the other (Fig. 3). 
J. C. WILLIS, Cambridge. 
