126 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



and is usually about one and one-half feet in length. 

 From the lower end of this fruit grows a long 

 root, sometimes attaining the length of two feet 

 before the fruit is dropped from the tree. When 

 the root-end of the fruit sticks in the mud, the 

 lower part, or root-tip, is ready to begin feeding 

 the upper leaves which are about to sprout in the 

 new plant. Thus another young tree is started. 

 Had the fruit not germinated before leaving the 

 parent tree, in all probability it would have rotted 

 in the mud and water before it had a chance to 

 germinate. How wisely the mother-plant acted 

 before sending her child into the world to struggle 

 for itself! 



But even that protection is not sufficient on 

 wind-swept islands ; and so, the mangrove-tree pro- 

 duces aerial roots, which it sends forth from the 

 many-branching stems. It is by means of these 

 manifold roots, or walking- feet, that the mangrove 

 is enabled to reclaim land from water. It has proved 

 itself to be an ingenious island-builder; and not 

 only islands, but inland swamps are filled with 

 these strange water-walking plants. 



In several parts of the United States, especially 

 in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, the mangrove 

 grows in abundance; but nature does no unneces- 

 sary work, and as most of these trees grow under 



