FLOWERS, FRUITS AND SEEDS. 75 



ent families, genera and species may have sufficient 

 general resemblance to enable the botanist to determine 

 very nearly where they belong, still they will usually vary 

 considerably in many of their characters, even when very 

 closely related, and as near alike as two peas from the 

 same pod, and yet no two peas are exactly alike. 



DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDS. Nature has provided vari- 

 ous methods for the distribution of seeds, thereby in a 

 measure preventing overcrowding of plants, although it is 

 quite evident that, in her prodigality, she produces a far 

 greater number of seeds than can possibly grow, with 



Fig. 38. SEED OF THE ASH. 



room for the plants to reach maturity; but as animals are 

 dependent upon plants for support, seeds are largely con- 

 sumed, and yet, when this demand has been fully provided 

 for, there is still a large surplus of some kinds, and the 

 war of races, as well as of kinds, takes place, ending in 

 what has been aptly termed " the survival of the fittest." 

 The seeds of many herbs and trees are provided with 

 long hair-like appendages (pappus), as seen on the seed- 

 vessels and seeds of the Thistles (Cirsium), Milkweeds 

 (Asclepias), Willow-herbs (Epilobium), Dandelion (Tar- 

 axacum), Cottonwood (Populus), which assist in their 



