SEED DISTRIBUTION. 207 



or silkweed (Asclepias cornuti), so abundant in rich grounds, 

 is attractive not only because of the peculiar pendent flower 



Fig. 250. 

 Milkweed (Asclepias cornuti) ; dissemination of seed. 



clusters, but also for the beautiful floats with which it sends its 

 seeds skyward, during a puff of wind, to finally lodge on the 

 earth. 



464. Means for floating the seeds. — The large boat-shaped, 

 tapering pods, in late autumn, are packed with oval, flat- 

 tened, brownish seeds, which overlap each other in rows 

 like shingles on a roof. These 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 white hairs on the inner end of each seed, in 



