PLANTS THAT WALK 7 
thread-like chain that holds the colony together like 
little children clasping hands. 
A more striking example of a plant that walks 
and takes possession of large surfaces, both of 
land and water, is the Marsilia. It belongs to a 
very interesting family of plants, which are fern 
allies, and bear neither flowers nor real seeds. In 
appearance it closely resembles the four-leafed 
clover. The Marsilia has a long, thread-like root- 
stalk, and sends out little creepers, which crawl 
along and then shoot up into leaves. Many bot- 
anists claim that it grows only in water; but really 
it flourishes best when growing with the least 
amount of water. When it grows underneath the 
water the leaves peep out just above the surface. 
Another well-known walking plant is the winter- 
green. It has nodding flowers and shiny red ber- 
ries. It is an evergreen, and the stem usually 
creeps below the ground, sending down clusters of 
roots and sprouting up new stems, from which at 
first green leaves spring, then later little branches 
of delicate flowers, and lastly wonderful red ber- 
ries. The leaves and berries are good to eat, and 
are often used, especially the former, in flavouring 
candies and in medicine. Wintergreen has many 
different names in various parts of the country. 
It has no season, but blossoms and bears fruit from 
