COMPOSITE FAMILY 



^3 S;. 



few dry remnants of fiowers, the other bursts into a 

 mass of fluffy white. All this can go on by the side of 

 the garden walk and so clearly that he who runs to 

 catch a suburban car may note and understand. 



This fluffy appearance is due to 

 the fact that each small seed after 

 the fashion of so many of its family 

 is a wind traveller; and is provided 

 with means for its long journey in 

 the shape of a feathery parachute 

 made up of many white hairs, which 

 makes a brave show upon the bush 

 and finally takes the wings of the 

 wind and sails away bearing the seed to *' distant 

 homes and unpeopled lands." 



The shrub is a native of sea-beaches and salt 

 marshes, yet will grow almost anywhere : obviously, 

 after a plant has acquired the ability to live on the 

 seacoast, any other location must be an improvement. 

 It bears close pruning and is a good ornamental shrub. 



Fruit of Groundsel-tree. 



314 



