16 ELEMENTARY FORESTRY. 
The Fruit, botanically defined, is the seed-containing area, 
derived from a single flower. As used in nursery practice the 
term is generally applied to seeds having a fleshy covering or 
an adjoining fleshy part. 
The Seed, botanically defined, is the ripened ovule, but as 
the term is used in nursery practice it often includes the ovary 
and other parts that may be attached to it. What is commonly 
called the seed of Maple, Ash, Elm, Walnut and Basswood is 
really the fruit. 
Distribution of Seeds. The seeds of plants are distributed 
in various ways, the most common of which are (1) by means 
of floats or wings which buoy the seeds up in the air or water, 
and (2) by animals. The seeds of Ash, Arborvite, Boxelder, 
Catalpa, Elm, Maple, Pine and Spruce have wings which allow 
them to be blown great distances by the wind, especially when 
they break loose from the upper branches of high trees during 
severe winds. The seeds of the Honey Locust are not shed 
from the pod until after it has fallen, and as the pod is ten 
inches or more long and spirally twisted it may be blown long 
distances on level ground or snow crust. The seeds of the pop- 
lars and willows have a cottony float attachment which buoys 
them up in the air. In the case of the Basswood, the parachute- 
like bract attached to the seed cluster aids in spreading the seeds 
by carrying them through the air or along the snow crust. The 
seeds of Mountain Ash, Wild Black Cherry, Hawthorn and oth- 
ers are largely distributed by wild animals which eat the fruit 
and allow the seeds to pass through the alimentary canal unin- 
jured or carry off the fruit and spit out the seeds. Many seeds 
or seed vessels have bur-like or sticky coats by which they 
adhere to animals and are thus carried considerable distances. 
Very often bodies of water aid in the distribution of seeds, since 
all that are spread by the agency of the wind and most of those 
that have fleshy coverings will float on the surface of the water 
and may in this way be scattered. 
Shapes of Trees. Different species of trees naturally 
develop different shapes. Some, like Spruces, Tamarack and 
Balsam, have a decided tendency to form a strong stem and to 
take on a conical form in preference to the development of a 
crown or head; while others, like the Basswood, Oaks, Maples 
and Boxelder, develop their crown in preference to their stem. 
