PLANTS THAT WALE 75 



thread-like chain that holds the colony together like 

 little children clasping hands. 



A more striking example of a plant that walks 

 and takes possession of large surfaces, both of 

 land and water, is the Marsilia. It belongs to a 

 very interesting family of plants, which are fern 

 allies, and bear neither flowers nor real seeds. In 

 appearance it closely resembles the four-leafed 

 clover. The Marsilia has a long, thread-like root- 

 stalk, and sends out little creepers, which crawl 

 along and then shoot up into leaves. Many bot- 

 anists claim that it grows only in water; but really 

 it flourishes best when growing with the least 

 amount of water. When it grows underneath the 

 water the leaves peep out just above the surface. 



Another well-known walking plant is the winter* 

 green. It has nodding flowers and shiny red ber- 

 ries. It is an evergreen, and the stem usually 

 creeps below the ground, sending down clusters of 

 roots and sprouting up new stems, from which at 

 first green leaves spring, then later little branches 

 of delicate flowers, and lastly wonderful red ber- 

 ries. The leaves and berries are good to eat, and 

 are often used, especially the former, in flavouring 

 candies and in medicine. Wintergreen has many 

 different names in various parts of the country. 

 It has no season, but blossoms and bears fruit from 



