552 Handbook of Nature-Study 



portion of the leaf, which clasps the plant entirely or partially, depending 

 upon whether it is an outer or inner leaf, and thus adds to its strength. 

 We almost feel as if these alternate leaves were consciously doing their 

 best to protect the slender, flower stem. The free part of the leaves is 

 strengthened by lengthwise veins, and they form edges that never tear nor 

 break. They are very flexible, and therefore yield to the wind rather than 

 dafy it. If we look at a leaf in cross-section, we can see the two thick 

 walls strengthened by the framework of stiff veins which divide the in- 

 terior into long cells. If we cut the leaf lengthwise we can see that these 

 long cells are supported by stiff, coarse partitions. 



Where the leaf clasps the stem, it is very stiff and will break rather 

 than bend. The texture of the leaf is soft and smooth, and its shade of 

 green is attractive. The length of the leaves is often greater than that of 

 the blossom stalk, and their graceful curves contrast pleasantly with its 

 ramrod-like stiffness. It is no wonder that artists and the decorators have 

 used the cat-tail lavishly as a model. It is interesting to note that the 

 only portion of the leaves injured by the wind is the extreme tip. 



The cat-tail is adapted for living in swamps where the soil is wet but 

 not under water all the time. When the land is drained, or when it is 

 flooded for a considerable time, the cat-tails die out and disappear. They 

 usually occur in marshy zones along lakes or streams ; and such a zone is 

 always sharply defined by dry land on one side and water on the other. 

 The cat-tail roots are fine and fibrous and are especially fitted, like the 

 roots of the tamarack, to thread the mud of marshy ground and thus gain 

 a foothold. The cat-tails form one of the cohorts in the phalanx of 

 encroaching plants, like the reeds and rushes, which surround and, by a 

 slow march of years, finally conquer and dry up ponds. But in this they 

 overdo the matter, since after a time the soil becomes too dry for them 

 and they disappear, giving place to other plants which find there a con- 

 genial environment. The place where I studied the cat-tails as a child is 

 now a garden of joe pye weed and wild sunflowers. 



Reference Plant Life, Coulter. 



LESSON CXXXIV 



THE CAT-TAIL 



Leading thought The cat-tail is adapted to places where the soil is wet 

 but not under water; its pollen is scattered by the wind, and its seeds are 

 scattered by wind and water. Its leaves and stalks are not injured nor 

 broken by the wind. 



Method As this is primarily a geography lesson, it should be given in 

 the field if possible; otherwise the pupils must explore for themselves to 

 discover the facts. The plant itself can be brought into the schoolroom 

 for study. When studying the seeds, it is well to be careful, or the school- 

 room and the pupils will be clothed with the pappus for weeks. 



Observations i. Where are the cat-tails found? Is the land on 

 which they grow under water all the year? At any part of the year? Is 

 it dry land all the year? What happens to the cat-tails, if the land on 

 which they grow is flooded for a season? What happens to them, if the 

 land is drained? 



2. How wide a strip do the cat-tails cover, where you have found 

 them? Are they near a pond or brook or stream Do they grow out in 



