The Seniors of the Forest 287 



adhering to sticky slides which had been sent to a 

 height of over five hundred feet by means of 

 kites. Curiously enough more was found in the 

 higher levels of the atmosphere." 



The pollen of the Coniferae is enabled to fly thus 

 adventurously abroad because each grain is pro- 

 vided with two bladdery wings, so that its outline 

 suggests one kind of a Chinese kite (Fig. 80). 



FIG. 80. Winged pollen of the fir. 



This winged pollen comes out of little sacs, which 

 grow sometimes in pairs, sometimes in clusters, on 

 the lower surfaces of shield-shaped scales, which 

 have been called " staminal leaves.*' They are 

 regarded as foliage leaves, set aside and altered 

 over for new and higher uses. 



Cooperation which brings about great results in 

 the physical as well as in the industrial world 

 enables the staminal leaves of the pine to make a 

 brave show. They grow in long, close tufts, each 

 of which is regarded as a very simple and primi- 

 tive staminate flower (Fig. 81). 



