WAFER ASH 
opposite sides of that oblong pointed seed-vessel there grows 
a thin membranous wing, which enlarges until at length each 
meets the other and uniting they form one continuous mem- 
brane. By this means the surface has been increased at 
least six fold, the weight scarcely one, and the result is a 
buoyant body that when freed from the anchoring stem will 
float upon the moving air. 
One thing further bespeaks kind nature’s care. The tree 
never lets her darlings go until early winter when winds are 
high, and consequently they are borne far afield. In the 
light of this life-story it is not surprising that the species is 
abundant in its native forests. 
The Wafer Ash is moneecious, that is, both sterile and fer- 
tile flowers are borne in the same flower cluster. A blossom 
which has stamens but no pistils is called a staminate or 
sterile flower because it can produce no seeds. A blossom 
which has pistils but no stamens is called a pistillate or fer- 
tile flower because it can be fertilized by pollen from other 
flowers and can produce seeds. These two sorts of flowers 
may grow on plants produced from distinct roots; then the 
plants are said to be dicecious, a word of Greek derivation 
which means, living in two households, Or the two kinds 
may occur on the same plant or in the same flower cluster ; 
then the flowers are said to be moneecious, that is, living in 
one household. 
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