The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-11
seeds Carried by the winds.

From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat
The terrible eruption of ISrakatoa. In
the Sunda Strait. in 1883 furnished the
opportunity for illustrating the ease with
which nature can replant with vegeta-
BILE life district that has become COM
pletely desclated. The volcanic eruption
was one of the most destructive record
cd In history. the loss of human If
being estimated TO exceed 100000. OF
he eighty-iiVe volcanoes on and near the
Island of Java, twenty-siX were in vio-
lent eruption at the same time. The cen
ire of disturbance was the island vol
cano of Krakatoa. which emitted motion
lava and burning ashes In such abund-
ance that every living thing. whether
animal or vegetable. on the island, was
destroyed. and an observer from ship
which approached close to the land de-
clared that the whole island was red hot.
Four years from the date of the eruption
the Island was visited by an eminens
naturalist, who found that the ashes
and lava had cooled to such an extent
As 10 permit che beginnings of vegetable
life, and on making n closer eXamina-
ton he discovered that during the brief
spacs of four years nature had stocked
the island with 246 different kinds OF
plants
There are many seeds which seem, by
The formation, to he specially designed
for transmission through the air. and of
these several are quite as good illustra-
common dandelion, plant TO be seen on
every common, has wings which will
carry 1t away on the slightest breath OF
air The wings are very slight filamcnts.
radiating backward from the seed,
20 that. when the latter finally lodges.
It falls tip first. in the most favorable
position for taking root Country chill
N hn Uni off
amusement in blowing the seeds from
the stalk and watching to see how
far they will go before falling to the
ground, but whenever there is even
moderate breeze the experiment is uni
Tormly failure, as the ileecy seed fly out
Of sight and are gone in an instant, and
the next season a dandeion springs up
IN somebody's lawn. where the plant was
never seen before, The common tumble
weed is another example of the winged
seed. The plant grows in a woolly
bunch, which, when dried is easily sepa-
rated from the stalk and light breeze
sets the ball rolling over the ground to
'catter Its seed wherever Il goes The
seeds of many ferns and microscopic
plants are so constructed as to be readily
lifted and carried away by the wind
while some of considerable size are pro-
vided with an elaborate arrangement
tor aerial transportation. The common
maple Is an example of the last kind. for
PROTECTING from its large head is
membrane closely resembling in size.
shape and general appearance the wing
Of the locust. When the seed is sepa-
rated from the tree, even If the air be
quite still. 1t does not fail directly TO the
earth, but. by It's peculiar construction.
acquires In falling a spiral motion that
takes ii several feet from beneath the
starting point. and when a brisk breeze
is blowing one of these winged seeds
has been known to twirl through the air
ior six miles before its journey came
TO an end and 1t sank TO the ground,
there to germinate and start maple
grove