i ELEMENTARY BOTANY 
Seeds Many fruits, in dehiscing, often send out their 
scattered on eee : - 
Dehiscence of Sceds with an explosive movement. This is the 
Fruits. case in the Violet, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Balsam, 
Squirting Cucumber, and Herb Robert. In this Geranium, the 
carpel springs from the central rod and sends out its seeds 
(Lord Avebury says) sometimes to the distance of 20 feet ; 
the Dog-violet scatters its seeds 10 feet; and the Squirting 
Cucumber, owing to the pressure of the liquid inside, 20 feet. 

Fic, 93.—Fruit or WILLOW HERB Fic. 94.—PoD OF Corton DE- 
DEHISCING AND EXPOSING SEEDS ; HISCING AND SHOWING SEEDS ; 
ALSO A DETACHED SEED. ALSO A SINGLE SEED WITH HArrs 
FOR DISPERSION. 
Many pods from the elasticity of their walls roll up in 
dehiscing, and thus jerk the seeds some little distance—tor 
instance, the Sweet Pea ; whilst in some Vetches the pod twists 
like a corkscrew and ejects its seeds. 
Many fruits and seeds have the power of floating 
in water, and can thus be carried some distance. 
Darwin found that many seeds could resist the effect of sea- 
water, and would germinate even after being immersed thirty 
By Water. 
