168 



DISPERSAL OF SEEDS 



feet. This plant is easily grown in a gar- 

 den (procure seeds of seedsmen). 



329 . Wind - travelers. — Wind- trans- 

 ported seeds are of two general kinds — 

 those that are provided with wings, as the 

 flat seeds of catalpa (Fig. 301) and cone- 

 bearing trees (Fig. 297) and the samaras 

 of ash, elm, tulip-tree, ailanthus and 

 maple; those that have feathery buoys or 

 parachutes to enable them to float in the 

 air. Of the latter kind are the fruits of 

 many composites, in which the pappus is 

 copious and soft. Dandelion (Fig. 302) 

 and thistle (Fig. 256) are examples. The 

 silk of the 



304. Head of cat-tail in 

 late fall. The fruits 

 are carried in the late 

 autumn winds. 



Drupes of the black haw, loved 

 of robins in winter. 



milkweed (Fig, 

 303) has a similar office, and also 

 the wool of the cat-tail. (Fig. 

 304.) Recall the cottony seeds 

 of the willow and poplar. 



330. Dispersal by Birds — 

 Seeds of berries and of other 

 small fleshy fruits are carried far 

 and wide by birds. The pulp is 

 digested, but the seeds are not 

 injured. Note how the cherries, 

 raspberries, blackberries and 

 Juneberries spring up in the 

 fence-rows, where the birds rest. 

 Some berries and drupes persist 

 far into winter, when they supply 

 food to cedar-birds, robins and 

 the winter birds. (Fig. 305.) 

 Red cedar is distributed by birds. 

 Many of the pulpy fruits are 



