380 IN LOWER FLORIDA IVILDS 



several cunning devices wherewith to establish 

 themselves. The seeds of orchids are very minute 

 and can be borne long distances by the wind. 

 Those of our species of air pines (Tillandsia, 

 Catopsis, and Guzmannia) are provided with a 

 tuft of silky filaments, much like the down on a 

 thistle, the whole so light that it almost floats in 

 the air. Whenever these are blown or drift against 

 the limb or trunk of a tree the roughened threads 

 are pretty likely to catch and hold. The wind 

 and rain beat them down against the bark until 

 the seed touches it, when without any soil or extra 

 moisture they germinate, forming at first a few 

 fleshy leaves like an aloe, and at the same time 

 sending out roots which cling to their support. 



On some of the trees in my hammock I fastened 

 small specimens of a giant air plant from Cuba 

 which has hard, indigestible seeds imbedded in a 

 sweet, sticky pulp, the whole contained in a sort 

 of capsule. In its native land the birds eagerly 

 devour the fruits, a part of which often adheres to 

 their beaks, claws, or feathers. When they alight 

 on other trees the sticky mass may come in contact 

 with limbs or bark and adhere, or the seeds are 

 passed through and lodge where they can grow. 



