, 1910-02-23

$1,000
may turn from the composite order to other
plant which attain the same end, sometimes
IN similar, sometimes in is~imilar ways.
OF the use of eXuded gum, examples have
been given in earlier articles, in wh5ch ut
tention has been drawn to this feature in the
pisonias, (cockspur and loblollyl,o and the boer-
huavin (Oatta-batta) The same thing is found
IN the wild plumbago, which may be seen
singing its long arms, covered with punches
of pretty white flowers, over bushes or walls
(the latter for instance by the roadside at
La Princesse yillage), as also in the luven-
der-coloured garden plumbago, i'll both
which examples tile calyx will be found Gov
cred with gummy glands through It's whole
length.
OF the use of hooks and barbs many we'll
known examples may be given. In q former
article was mentioned the very striking case
OF the prickly Verbena (PriUa echindfa).
where the puffed out calyx is covered with mi
mute hooks, so small and close that when they
take hold Of the skin they create the impress
sion that the calyx adheres by the use of a gum.
Among the moss fumiliaris the case of the very
common weed known rs "man-better man.,
~(AchyranLhe8 aSperoO, whose flowers grow
on long spikes and i'll their early stages
stand upright close to the stem, then turn
outwards when they are to open, and after
wards turn d~ownwards, having Oh their out
ward side two hooks splendidly adapted to
holding on to an animals coat, to q mans
coat too, which, if you should happen to
fall in love with botany and wander among
the bushes, you will quickly find out. We
have been told that these little fruits are
called in Barbados "sweethearts.' They pre-
sent u striking illustration of the fact refer
red to in the earlier part of this article, name
~ that many plants which help their seeds in
ON arkjnO on this GOrt of fru vA1liur boVa
also in the form OF the fruit or in it's special
appendages, aids to their landing" la this
case it is the calyx which remains and whose
spiny bracts secure the ride, while the rigid
points Of its five sepals serve as an effec.
tive means for securing a landing. Do they
adhere-to The clothing2 You have but to
brush them tn other way and you are rid Of
them at once. The passing animal does not
know this trick, and, if he did, is perhaps
not so particular about his appearance, 50
that the calyx with its enclosed fruit gets,
may be, a long ride.
Equally well known cases are those Of the
bur grass and the buI-bush The former is
an annual grass, eaten and enjoyed by stock,
at least the writer has seen a horse picking it
out i'll a range. The pointed and blrbed
spine are developed on I'M inyOlucre enclos-
ing several flowers with their seeds, and they
secure that the SEEDS are carried about 0dher-
ing to the grazing animals. No wonder then
that this grass is found along almost every
roadside and through every range.
The bur-bush is a cousin Of the opara-
lolo" ("calalu'l but differs from it in the
way it bears It's seeds, they being in Il round
(~globose) achene, while the seeds of the
papa-Iolo are contained in q long two
~chambered pod. The achene of the bur
bush is covered all over with close-7et
bristles ending in sharp hooks. These little
hooks are excellent for anchorin8 the ripe
achenes to the coat of II passing animal,
and, as the achene is round, those on the
outside are just as valuable for removing it
on its arrival at its new place of abode.
Many plants Of the gteA5 order to which the
cotton-p'aut belongs (HaIyacoo) also have
special helps to getting free rides for their
seeds. Some of them have their fruits
formed with points and angles suited to
catch Oh to hair or wool, and one OF
them, rather common in the suburbs of
Christiansted, grows three long spines on
each Of it's five fruit divisions, hence fifteen
spines for every flower and every one barbed,
no wonder that It's second name is s~pj2sifer,