462 RELATIOh^ TO FNV IKON AlENT. 



897. The milkweed, or silkwoed. — The common milkweed, or silkweed 

 ( \scle|)ias tornuti), so ahundanl in rirli f'roiinds, is atlraitivc m t only 



Fig. 4S4. 

 Milkweed (Asclepias cormai) ; dissemination of seed. 



because of the peculiar pendent flower clusters, liut also for the beautiful 

 floats with which it sends its seeds skyw[ird, durini; a puff of wind, to finally 

 lodge on the earth. 



898. Tlic large boat-shaped, tapering jiods, in late autunm, are packed 

 with oval, flattened, brownish seeds, which overlap each other in rows like 

 shingles on a roof. The-.c make a pretty picture as the pod in drying splits 

 along the suture on the convex side, and exposes them to view. The silky 

 tufts of numerous long, delicate \\hile hairs on the inner end of each seed, 

 in drying, bristle out, and thus lift the seeds out of their enchjsure, where 

 they are caught by the breeze and borne away often to a great distance, 

 where they will germinate if conditions become favorable, and take (heir 

 places as contestants in the battle fn- existence. 



899. The virgin's bower. — The virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana\ too 

 clambering over fence and .shrub, makes a show of having transformed its 



