The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-17
MUTUAL FRIENDSHIPS OF PLANTS.
Close Relations That May React to
Their Advantnge.

w. w. Bailey, in New York Independent.
Those who have spent much time among
the wild flowers are aware that very init
mate relations exist between different spe-
cies. 1t is suggestive to think how far back
in time these may extend. OFTEN maybe,
thore is @ practical and even prOsaic cause
for the friendship; at other times reason
is not so easily discoVerable.
Environment has very largely to dofwith
these relations Similar climatal conditions
VIII occasion like results. Thus, we will
see the arid and elevated plateaus of Amer
lea producing cactuses adapted to just such
conditions In South Africa, where similar
conditions prevail, the cacti are replaced by
succulent sponges. Hot, dry situations
elsewhere produce the thickened Mesem-
beaches everywhere produce quite typical
thickened formatons-naturally repeated
about inland saline lakes. Again, desert
and Steppe plants have a marked lnd1Vld-
uality-a scraggY or prickly appearance
and gray foliage Alpine plants are as pc
culiar in type deep-rooted, wide-spreading,
evident in all these cases that given
problem of safety or perpetuity has been
worked out on similar lines but with vary
ing success.
So marked are the features" of plants
determined by their regional surroundings
that the skilled botanist glancing at a
heap of unnamed plants, will often decide
unerrngly as to their origin, saying these
are from Australia, these from the Mexican
highlands, others from China or from ST.
IBERIA 1t is not in such cases that he rec
ogniZes the families or genera, but, so to
speak, the national characteristics. These
are pronounced as the languages or COS
tunes of mankind.
But there are other more subtle relations
Which We're in mind in T[itid1g this arfee
it is pleasant to so regard them.
When we find the painted cup spread
ing it's gorgeous scarlet carpet In q wet
meadow, we look also to see it's foil, the
equally brilliant golden ragout. They be-
long together in this field of the cloth OF
gold In the quaking peat of some bog we
find the pretty Arethusa, gem of terres-
trial orchids, and we look at once for the
pitcher plant, the sun dew and the cotton
sedge. Up a shady raVine, when the earth
is rich, moist and black, Is seen the yellow
ladys slippers. Near at hand will be the
snowy orchis, Che wild ginger, the snow
flakes of Mitella yellow violets, and the eX-
quisite mountain fringe. Along some stream
we see galaxy of White-starred olood-
roots; the yellow adders tongues troop to
The biue-eyed hepaticas especially love
rocky hillsides and joining in their frolc
will be the wood anemones and the still
daintier anemonella. BluetS are so abund-
ant often in wet meadows that one would
say at first glance that they have the neld
to themselves. But no, here, too grow the
yellow five fingers, the upland violet and
the early everlasting Even the common Cd
server associates in his mind the golden
rods and asters; but these are of one ar1s-
tOCratic clan.
Sometimes the relation of one plant to
another is too intimate to be pleasant.
Many twners and climbers, human-like,
lay hold of those whose business success
into the sunlight OF prosperity The com
partnership may simply be a caressing one,
like that of the Woodbine and the juniper,
or it may involve tragedy, like that writ
ten in the life history of the dodder and
the balsam
Everybody knows that there are Bohe
milan plants, pariahS and outcaStS of So
ciety We call them weeds. They prefer
a nomadic life The restraints of society
offend them To their ranks even the best
types of plants contribute recruits. In vast
hordes they go forth to occupy the land.
Typical of these are the Whiteweed, the
amaranths, the carrot, pigweeds and purs-
lane.
On the other hand, there are recluses
among plants anChorites or hermits, dwell
ing lone by the solemn sea, or secreted in
hooks OF forest or mountain. Melancholy
surViVals of some anted1luVtan friendship
are these no doubt, keeping sad tryst
through the ages.
1t has of late been considered probable
that in some cases the association of
Dlants not necessarily related, reacts to
their mutual advantage. Large masses of
color can be better observed by insects
on the wing than detached flowers. One
color often helps to bring out another or
to make it far more conspicuous, as white
acting on the ever-preSent influence of Mt
ting survival certain cOlOrS become per-
petuated to the exclusion of others. Some
very remarkable facts in this connection
History of Plants" Indeed, this monu-
mental work is mine of fascinating in
formation. 1t is most pleasant and prohta-
BILE to attempt to find American examples
of the phenomena he cites. No one can
read the book without desiring to become
an observer, and observation lies at the
root of natural history education 1t is by
no means enough to read; one must handle
and study the actual objects, be they Vege-
table or animal. Thus only can one learn
to know and to love all things created.