260 IN LOWER FLORIDA WILDS 



seeds take so long to germinate. Those of some 

 palms, for example, lie in the ground actually for 

 years before they come up. But the tropics is a 

 region of wonders and therefore of exceptions to or- 

 dinary rules. The seeds of mangroves sprout while 

 they hang on the tree, sending out club-shaped roots 

 about a foot long. These fall, often into the sea, and 

 may drift many miles to new localities. The grow- 

 ing point at the heavier end of the "club" sends 

 out roots rarely while floating ; but when it strands 

 on some shallow bank it at once becomes attached 

 to the mud and begins its career as a new tree. I 

 once took several of these sprouted seeds and in- 

 serted them into mud and seaweed just below 

 high tide and in forty-eight hours they had begun 

 to throw out roots. In a week nearly all of them 

 had become well attached and established as little 

 trees. 



Possibly in some instances seedlings float for a 

 year or even longer and still retain their vitality. 

 More often they fall into the soft mud near the 

 parent tree and again they seek to germinate and 

 grow on rough bare rocks. When they drop into 

 soft mud or water they maintain a vertical position, 

 the growing end down. But if the young plants 



