( *9 ) 
for their difperfion, when ripe. Some have an 
appendage like a wing, as the feeds of fycamore 
(acer); one of the fpecies of centaurea has a 
feed furnifhed with a tuft fo nearly refembling 
a camel-hair pencil, that it rnjght be miftaken 
for one ; feather-grafs (ilipa) has a beautiful 
plume ; one of thefe plants makes an elegant 
appearance, when in a bright day, with a gen- 
tle wind, a number of thefe plumes are feeti 
together, waving in the air, and Aiming like 
filver. But the mofl curious of the flying 
feeds is that of the tillandfia : this plant 
grows on trees, like the milletoe (vifcum), 
and never on the ground; the feeds are fur- 
nifhed with many long threads on their 
crowns, which, as they are driven forwards 
by the winds, wrap round the arms of trees, 
and thus hold them till they vegetate : this 
is very fimilar to the migration of fpiders on 
the goflamer, who are faid to attach them- 
felves to the end of a long thread, and rife 
thus to the tops of trees or buildings, as the 
accidental breezes carry them. Thefe flying 
feeds are carried to a verv confiderable dif- 
tance from their parent plant ; others have 
hooks, by which they attach themfelves to 
the hair or feathers of animals, or a glu- 
C % tinous 
