FLOWER AND FRUIT 187 
pod earrying the seeds long distances. That prolonged 
soaking, even in salt water, does not appreciably 
impair the germinating power of the kowhai seed may 
be proved by experiment. 
3. Animals distribute seeds in two ways. Barbed, 
spiny, or rough-coated fruits may cling to their coats 
(Fig. 122). This is the case with the piripiri, in which 
a barbed spine springs from the base of each of the 
calyx lobes. The Bathurst burr, dock, and uncinia are 
distributed in the same way. The pittosporum fruit 
is full of mucilage, which causes it to adhere to an 
animal’s coat and thus facilitates its dispersal. Birds 
and other animals eat many succulent fruits, such as 
those of the cherry, coprosma, and ink plant, and, 
passing the seeds undigested through their intestines, 
spread them over a large area. 
4. Explosive fruits exist, which, on opening, expel 
their seeds to consiucrable distances. Such are the 
gorse, violet, and balsam. On approaching a gorse 
thicket when the pods are ripe one hears a constant 
snapping noise, which is produced by the dehiscence 
of the fruit. 
5. Hygroscopic (Gk. hygros moist, and skopeo I 
see) movements, 2.e., movements due to the absorption 
of water, serve to distribute some seeds. The schizocarp 
of stork’s bill (Hrodium) (Fig. 122) breaks up into five 
long bodies. Each of these, when dry, forms a coil. 
When it becomes wet it straightens out, and, on 
becoming dry, coils once more. By thus alternately 
coiling and uncoiling it travels over the ground. These 
movements also serve to bury the seed. 
SUMMARY. 
The flower is the reproductive organ. The sepals 
form the calyx. They may be aposepalous (free) or 
Synsepalous (united). They protect the essential 
organs against rain, cold, and evaporation. 
