Geranium incanum, a schizocarp

In this photo the five stalked fruits or achenes of Geranium incanum have split away from each other, now as ripe seeds ready to use their twisting stalks to position themselves as well they can for germination.

The splitting of the surface covering of the style provides every seed with its own water responsive mechanical device, a tail for settling independently. Removal of these five thin, curling parts from the style results in only the central column remaining straight, erect to keep all of it together for a while.

There is rarely a photo shoot before each seed departs, fully self-sufficient to find fortune, becoming a new plant somewhere where the land is free.

The five break-aways are ready to absorb water and curl, now in seed dispersal, self-planting and germination mode (Bean and Johns, 2005; Wikipedia).