126 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 
and is usually about one and one-half feet in length. 
From the lower end of this fruit grows a long 
root, sometimes attaining the length of two feet 
before the fruit is dropped from the tree. When 
the root-end of the fruit sticks in the mud, the 
lower part, or root-tip, is ready to begin feeding 
the upper leaves which are about to sprout in the 
new plant. Thus another young tree is started. 
Had the fruit not germinated before leaving the 
parent tree, in all probability it would have rotted 
in the mud and water before it had a chance to 
germinate. How wisely the mother-plant acted 
before sending her child into the world to struggle 
for itself! 
But even that protection is not sufficient on 
wind-swept islands; and so, the mangrove-tree pro- 
duces aerial roots, which it sends forth from the 
many-branching stems. It is by means of these 
manifold roots, or walking-feet, that the mangrove 
is enabled to reclaim land from water. It has proved 
itself to be an ingenious island-builder; and not 
only islands, but inland swamps are filled with 
these strange water-walking plants. 
In several parts of the United States, especially 
in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, the mangrove 
grows in abundance; but nature does no unneces- 
sary work, and as most of these trees grow under 
