9 
Photos by} 
In these 
Marvels of the Universe 
(J. J. Ward. 
THE FROGBIT. 
photographs and the two on the opposite page— 
understand the Frogbit’s purpie absorbing 
layer beneath its leaves ; for, like the early 
and similarly coloured shoots of the colt’s- 
foot and the asparagus, it is capturing all 
the available heat from the sun’s rays, 
and preventing its escape, thus correcting 
the chill which the water gives to its leaves. 
Indeed, it needs all the heat-energy it 
can possibly secure, for it is a most active 
little plant, continually throwing out run- 
ners, bearing new tufts of leaves, through- 
out the summer months, sometimes pro- 
ducing pretty white flowers, but rarely 
ripening its seeds ; and then, the moment 
the temperature begins to cool down, and 
business gets slack, as it were, suddenly 
shutting up shop and reserving its gains 
just as the seaside caterer does at the 
end of the busy season. How skilfully 
it economizes we will now proceed to see. 
Even on this afternoon of  mid- 
autumn, we can see it preparing for those 
early-morning frosts which so quickly ruin 
its floating leaves. Some long and strong 
shoots have grown downwards into the 
water, each one bearing a large bud on its 
apex. (See photo on page 976.) These 
buds are encased with strong protective 
scales, and are stored with rich starches 
and living material ; indeed, the plant is 
steadily conveying allits valuable food sub- 
stances from its leaves and stems into these 
large buds ; and when the surface of the 
water suddenly becomes frozen over, it 
will not be the Frogbit that becomes 
frozen, but, instead, its more or less empty 
skin—its skeleton leaves and stems. 
We have yet to witness, however, how 
marvellously this matter is arranged. 
The long stems on which the buds ripen 
extend well down into the water; for 
while the surface of the pond is warmest 
during summer, yet it is coldest during 
winter. The Frogbit seems fully aware 
of this fact, and lest an early frost might 
take it by surprise, it pushes its richly- 
stored buds well below, out of harm’s way. 
Then at last real frosts begin to come, and 
we immediately see the large buds, one 
