. Plant studies; an elementary botany. Botany. 120 PLANT WTDJUES. STiddenly curls np and throws the seeds (see Fig. 133). The squirting cucumber is so named because it becomes very much distended with water, whicli is finally forcibly ejected along with the mass of seed. An " artillery plant"' common in cultivation discliarges its seeds with consideraljle vio- lence ; while the detoinitions resulting from the explosions of the seed-vessels of Hura crepitans, the •'monkey's din- ner bell," are often remarked by travelers in tropical forests. 81. Dispersal of seeds by animals.—Onl
. Plant studies; an elementary botany. Botany. 120 PLANT WTDJUES. STiddenly curls np and throws the seeds (see Fig. 133). The squirting cucumber is so named because it becomes very much distended with water, whicli is finally forcibly ejected along with the mass of seed. An " artillery plant"' common in cultivation discliarges its seeds with consideraljle vio- lence ; while the detoinitions resulting from the explosions of the seed-vessels of Hura crepitans, the •'monkey's din- ner bell," are often remarked by travelers in tropical forests. 81. Dispersal of seeds by animals.—Only a few illustra- tions can l)e given of this very large subject. Water birds are gi'eat caiTiers of seeds which are contained in the mud clinging to their feet and legs. This mud from the borders of ponds is usually completely filled with seeds and spores of various plants. One has no conception of tJie number until they are actually com- puted. The following ex- tract froni Darwin's Origin of Species illustrates this p(iint : , 1^6. The fruit of carrot, showing tile grappling appendages.—After Deai,. f-L,-f- Fn;. 127. Tlie fruit of coelilelnir, sliowing tlie grappling Alter Bkal. "I tool;, in February, tliree talilesiiooiil'uls of imid from three (lilVeieiit jiiiiiits lieueulli water, oil the edge iiC a little iionil. This mud when dried weighed only (if ounees ; I kept it covered up in my study for six moiillis, ]iu]lin,g' up anil eouiitiiig each plant .-is it grew ; the phuils were of many kinds, and were altogether 5;!7 in iiunilier; and yel the viscid mud was all contained in a lireakfasl cii[i ! " Water birds are generally high and strong fliers, and the seeds and s]iores may thus be transported to the margins of distant jionds or lakes, and so very widely dispersed. In many cases seeds or fruits develop gra]ipling apiiend-. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readabi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbotany, bookyear1900
