THE LINDEN-TREE. 115 



One of the curiosities of the Lime-tree that deserves 

 notice is a certain winged appendage to the seed, which 

 is a round nut about the size of a pea. This is attached 

 to a long stem, from the end of which, joined to it ob- 

 liquely, descends a ribbon-like bract, causing it, when it 

 falls, to spin round and travel a long distance upon the 

 wind. If the tree stands on the borders of a pond, where 

 the seeds fall upon the surface, this winged appendage 

 performs the part of a sail, and causes the seeds to be 

 wafted to different points of the opposite shore. 



