ALLIES OF THE PLANT WORLD 
seeds parthenogenetically, that is, without the 
union of sex elements. 
Alliances which start out advantageously for 
both parties sometimes degenerate into mere sin- 
ecures for one or the other. The naturalists 
Ihering, Ule and Fiebrig, working in South 
America, a few years ago concluded that the as- 
sociation of the plant Cecropia and the Aztecan 
Ants, long regarded as a classic example of mu- 
tualism, is by far of greater benefit to the Ants. 
The openings which the Ants make into the hol- 
low interiors of this plant also allow the entrance 
of certain destructive insects, and the Ants them- 
selves attract Woodpeckers which damage the 
plants. It is also alleged that these same Ants, 
and the ones which inhabit the Humboldtia Lau- 
rifolia, are often so busy feasting on nectar that 
they do not stop to repel invasions of foliage- 
destroying insects. 
While man is the greatest enemy of the plant 
world, he is also at times its greatest friend. 
When it is to his advantage or when he is 
prompted by a sincere love of Nature, he be- 
comes a strong and helpful ally. He aids his 
fellow creatures of the vegetable world when 
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