THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 501 



With respect to other pLmts, nature has intrusted the 

 cares of their conjugal union to the wings of the wind. 

 This is the case with the dioecious plants, the sexes in 

 which are separate and dwell on distinct plants, wliicli are 

 often separated a long Avay from each other. In whirling 

 about the waves of air uplift the pollen, carry it into the 

 clouds, and let it fall upon the flowers like a fertilizing dew. 



Science religiously preserves the history of two palm- 

 trees Avhich were born in Italy and displayed a most 

 striking instance of what we have been stating. One of 

 them grew in the vicinity of Otranto; it was a female 

 tree, and annually covered with luxuriant flowers, yet it 

 remained constantly sterile. Every season had for a long 

 time brought forth the same hopes of fertility, to be fol- 

 lowed by the same blight. It may be imagined then how 

 general the astonishment was when the palm-tree of 

 Otranto Avas at last, after so many delusive promises, seen 

 laden with fruit! It Avas then found that another palm- 

 tree of the same species, but a male, had for the first time 

 blossomed at Brindisi. There could be no doubt about the 

 matter; thcAvind, carrying aAvay the pollen from tlie lattei", 

 had besprinkled the other Avith it, and thus the breeze had 

 Ijorne the life-giving dust a distance of fifteen leagues. From 

 this time the palm-tree of Otranto bore a harvest each year. 



FloAvers only celebrate their chaste union in broad da)'- 

 light. They require for it Avaves of air and light, and in 

 order to plunge into these, Ave frequently see them per- 

 form the most unexpected feats. 



Aquatic plants are principally remarkable in this 



come out with their heads and feet covered with the anthers of these fliiwers like 

 small ckibs. In some cases so much adheres that they cannot fly. Tliis is tlje 

 aifectiou which amateurs call the "club disorder." Ch. Eobin, in the beautiful 

 plates of his work on vegetable parasites, gives figures of diflereut insects strug- 

 fflinjr with this inconvenient burden. 



