WAFER ASH 



opposite sides of that oblong pointed seed-vessel there grows 

 a thin membranous wing, which enlarges until at length each 

 meets the other and uniting they form one continuous mem- 

 brane. By this means the surface has been increased at 

 least six fold, the weight scarcely one, and the result is a 

 buoyant body that when freed from the anchoring stem will 

 float upon the moving air. 



One thing further bespeaks kind nature's care. The tree 

 never lets her darlings go until early winter when winds are 

 high, and consequently they are borne far afield. In the 

 light of this life-story it is not surprising that the species is 

 abundant in its native forests. 



The Wafer Ash is monoecious, that is, both sterile and fer- 

 tile flowers are borne in the same flower cluster. A blossom 

 which has stamens but no pistils is called a staminate or 

 sterile flower because it can produce no seeds. A blossom 

 which has pistils but no stamens is called a pistillate or fer- 

 tile flower because it can be fertilized by pollen from other 

 flowers and can produce seeds. These two sorts of flowers 

 may grow on plants produced from distinct roots ; then the 

 plants are said to be dioecious, a word of Greek derivation 

 which means, living in two households. Or the two kinds 

 may occur on the same plant or in the same flower cluster ; 

 then the flowers are said to be monoecious, that is, living in 

 one household. 



35 



