THE DISPERSAL OF SEEDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 86

THE DISPERSAL OF SEEDS.

Last week I promised " Mabel " a note on seed dispersal. Next spring and summer Mabel must notice the clematis closely, and distinguish between the male i (fit&minate), flowere and the female (pistillate) flowers,- the latter beifig smaller and green-tinted. If she watches closely she will see the styles of theee remain attached to the flower and gradually , change into " a long, feathery plume, the object of which is to carry away the seed to some distance- by the agency of the wind." She might also note the changes that take place in the fruit of the lawyer. I saw some girls looking for something to-day, ■xnd asked what they "were after. 'The answer was " Chinamen's grapes." Do* you know what they are? A bunch of drupels or fruit of the lawyer. Look for 1 them. In this case, the seed is surrounded by a sweet fleshy substance, which opens and reveals the seed. You see, the , eeed is thus advertised. Along come school children, birds, etc., and when they eaf the fleehy part answering to the flesh of the 'peach, pear, apricot, etc., they in return do the lawyer a good turn by scattering its seed. One god turn deserves another, doesn't it? Last week I referred to Sir John Lubbock'e "Flowers, Fruits, and Leaves" as a good one. Another is " The Story of the Plants," by Grant Allen ; it is one of the " Story " series published by Newnes, and is only m. shilling. Some interesting chapters are: — "How Plants Marry," "Various Marriage Customs," " More Marriage Customs," " What Plants Do for Their Young," and "How Plants Drink." But best of all for school boys And girls studying the most prominent of our New Zealand flowers is Mr Thomson's "Class-book of Botany." But it must b/ 1 * remembered that it treats on other flo^^^ too. Notice how the pea family scatters seed. See how the grain or fibre of the pod ie diagonal to the fleshy part, to give the twisting motion necessary to jerk the seed some distance. Examine the wallflower, the poppy, and the geranium. Pick up the seed of the maple, sycamore, lime, -birch, and ash &nd ace how wings help them\»long. Other seeds again have hooks. The brier, our fruits — gooseberries, currants, have an edible exterior, ■and are distributed -by birds and " featherlees bipeds." Some are 6ticky, and birds to get rid of them have, to rub them oft But I want some observational notes, a,nd Mabel and her friends can try to oblige me.. BUTTERFLIES. I intended writing a note on these, but .space will not permit. I might just say, however, Try to each as many varieties ac you can; imprison them and supply them with a little eyrup_ and . watch developmente. Probably you will find different kinds laying different-6ized and different-shaped eggs. Note the plants the butterflies frequent most, so that you may be able to supply the little caterpillars with suitable fresh leaves.