PLANTS THAT BUILD AIRSHIPS 115 



flowers come like those of the parent plant and the 

 flowers develop into seeds. 



The linden provides a kite for its seeds, and hurls 

 them through the air by means of this device, which 

 is so constructed that the wind carries it spirally 

 toward the earth, often landing it a great distance 

 from the mother-tree. Should this kite with its 

 passenger by accident fall into water, it is prepared 

 to float for a long period of time, and if not too 

 far from land it may drift back to shore, like a 

 shipwrecked sailor. 



The bladdernut is still more ingenious. It builds 

 an airship with three separate compartments ; and in 

 each compartment it places a tiny seed-aviator. 

 Then it sends them forth, secure in the thought 

 that if by chance the airship should fall into water, 

 it will immediately turn into a boat, its bladder- 

 like compartments keeping it from sinking, and 

 all the aeronaut-seedlets will be saved. 



The airship plants have learned to adopt all the 

 best contrivances for the safety of their passengers. 

 The wings on the flying seeds have been adapted 

 to service as sails also. See the weary seed-aeronaut 

 sink gently on the surface of the water. He lies 

 there quiet a moment, the tiny feather-sail lightly 

 swaying. A puff of fresh wind ripples the sur- 

 face. The seed-sailor steadies, the sail fills and 



