Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-03-29
TRAVELS OF SEEDS.
NATURES VARIED DEVICES FOR SCAT
TERIN0 THEM.


Garry T'hsm-The Dying Mother "Isoss
ss Jsrichor-How seeds Are Distributsd
BY Animals and Water.
J Nature has spared no pains TO provide
for tho perpetuation Of living organisms.
6he IL prodigai, even apparently wsstefui,
In her efforts to attain this end. Every
plant throws out yearly its myriads OF
seeds, and no small part OF the machinery
adapted 10 make shis product fulfill It's
mission IL that directed to the distribution
Of these seeds. So effective IL this maohin-
cry that plants spread in few years over
wide regions Witness the incursi9ns Of
weeds Ike the so called Russian thistle,
against which tho efforts of tho farmer
seem almost unavailing The means by
which this rapid spreading Is brought
about arc the subject Of an article by Pro-
fessor H. Muller In der Stein der Weis-
en-" Vienna, Of which we translate tho
most interesting portions:
"Who has sent them (the plants) as
oolonists into this new, unpeopled landi
Whence have they come and by what wayi
II we call the roll of the army Of colonists
that we may got an answer to this ques-
tion, we shall find especially plants whose
seeds oan navigate tho air like miniature
flying machines, often for long distances.
All these belong to tho widely distributed
aster family (composit@) or to the nearly
related teazel family (dipsacce). Their
seeds arc furnished, to fit them for their
long sails through tho airy sea, with
sort of parachute of soft, feathcry flbers
The lightest breeze raises them and bears
them in graceful sweep over field and
meadow, but tho storm wind lifts them to
the region of the clouds SO that they fly
with tho eagle over hill and dale to far
and foreign lands. Millions, to bc sure,
fall to the ground without reaching the
sought for soil, but other millions fulfill
the end Of their existence, tho perpetua-
tion and increase Of their kind. Next to
the composite plants IL the numerous mus
tard family (cruoifer@). Then comes the
pink family with its countless representa-
tives and the plain looking grass family,
whose light seeds fly about hither and
thither as the stems are tossed about by
the wind.
"When summer thunderstorm bursts,
bending the strongest trees, or when In
autumn the wind rushes through tho
woods, then the time has come when the
plant children, now only slightly attached
to the plant mother-that is, the ripe seeds
that cling to thom-are torn away and
set out OH their adventurous travels; then
they whirl and dance In the air. along
with thousands on thousands OF their fell
lows Many rise high In air and sail ON
the upper air currents far away; others re-
main In the tree tops or hang from the
branches; others still fall ON roofs or bare
rocks; many, too, drop on passing mon or
beasts. Chance bcarS few to place where
their growth Is assured. The greater part
must perish"
After mentioning the various trees that
have winged seeds, such as the ash, maple,
etc. Professor Muller goes OH to describe a
peculiarly interesting plant belonging to
this class--the "rose of Jericho" He says:
1.-The sphoricalpaant, resembling bird 8
nest In the foreground, Is the so called rose
of Jericho (Anastatica hierochuntia), be-
longing to the family of cruciforD When
the plant approaches maturity, it forms
by tho bending Of its branches spherical
ball that carries the fruit within. Now
the dying mother plant Is ready for its
journey over the desert. When, with the
help Of the wind, it has become detached
from tho ground, it is rolled about in the
storm, hopping and springing over the
earth. now leaping over some rock that
protrudes from the sea Of sand, now over
the bleaching skeleton Of some unluoky
wanderer of the desert, all the time strew-
ing it's seeds far and wide.
There are also many plants whose
seeds, by means Of mechanical devices, are
hurled forth from the plant, as in the OK
alis family, the geranium and many 9th
ers. Such seeds, however, can travel only
short distances, and that Is the reason why
we almost never see the plants growing
singly, but in groups together. Still some
times they are carried to great distances
by passing animals, and also by flowing
water.
"There is q largo number of plants
whose seeds are carried in the stomachs of
animals and SO make long journeys.
Water also plays great part In the dis
tribution Of plants, and In the case Of
newly formed islands 1t plays the princi-
pal part.
"Who has not ON an autumn walk
through wood and field brought home
these little hangers on, clinging to his
clothes, or been obliged angrily to free
himself from the troublesome distractions
while still ON the roadP Unwittingly he
has thus aided In the distribution of these
plants, and, equally unwittingly animals
carry the seeds in their fur and birds bear
them on their feathers, whence they are
sooner or later dislodged. The skill shown
by nature In the matter Is truly remark
able These plants arc mostly troublesome
weeds which one would rather see decay
and perish, but nature makes use of US
against our wills to serve for their propa.
cation. We are like that strict professor
who, to see that there should be no cheat
ing In written examination, went about
from scholar to scholar and thereby un-
Willingly aided them to cheat, for he car
ried about with him placard bearing the
answers to all the questions, which some
sly scapegraoe had pinned to his coattails.
I'm this connection the interesting fact
should be stated that very many plants
whose fruits serve to nourish neither man
nor beast have these devices for securing
the distribution of their seeds. In tho case
Of plants whose fruits arc sought as food
this very fact is sufficient security that
the seeds will be properly distributed. -
Literary Digest.