178 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



PLANTS THAT HIDE FKOM ANIMALS. 



By Professor W. J. BEAL, 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, MICH. 



Plants Protected by Growing under Thorn Bushes and Thistles. — 

 C. G. Pringle, for many years a famous plant collector, especially in 

 Mexico and the arid regions of the United States, speaks of a native 

 grass of northern Mexico, Muhlenbergia Texana, as such a great favor- 

 ite with all grazing animals that it is usually exterminated or nearly 

 so, except when growing under the protection of thorny shrubs, usually 

 mesquite bushes. In Arizona during the winter and spring, the 

 Indians bring it long distances into the towns to sell. He adds, ' How 

 many times I have contended with the horrid mesquite bushes to gather 

 an armful of this grass to carry joyfully to my hungry and jaded 

 horses.' In such cases the thorns, spines and perhaps bitter taste of 

 the _ bushes not only protect the young growth and leaves of certain 

 plants, but furnish shelter for other tender and nutritious herbage. 



In arid regions, especially, similar instances of protection by thorn 

 bushes are numerous. 



Plants retire beneath the Surface of the Ground and are protected 

 from Animals. — At the close of the growing season, large numbers of 

 plants, especially in regions subject to protracted droughts or to severe 

 cold, cast off their leaves, take on a condensed form and remain secure 

 beneath the surface of the ground for months at a time in the form of 

 bulbs, tubers and rootstocks. At such times they are nearly sure to 

 escape destruction by animals. I only need to mention as examples 

 Solomon's seal, Dutchman's breeches, May apple, goldenrod, artichoke. 



Plants Protected from Animals by Water. — Not only the flowers of 

 many species of plants as they project above the surface of the water 

 are protected from most unwelcome insects, but the whole plants as 

 well. 



Mud turtles, certain fishes, water snails, larvae of insects, eat aquatic 

 plants, but most other animals are unable to reach them in such places. 



Water-plantain, wild rice, pond lilies, arrow-head, pickerel-weed, 

 pondweed, lizard's tail, bulrush, bur-reed, cat-tail flag, water dock, 

 and many more of their associates, root at the bottom with leaves float- 

 ing on the surface or projecting above. 



Innumerable low forms, known as algae, are at home in lakes, 

 ponds and streams or on the surface of the water, Avhile other kinds 

 thrive in salt or brackish water. These aquatics find protection below 



