day, August 26, 1982 ELLSWORTH AMERICAN. ELLSWORTH, MAINE 04605 The Seeds Must Go Out in the World and Make Their By LaRue Spiker travel. It is why the same species of or water. Some plants throw their and around. The spin is caused by puffed on it to see the seeds float off. stem, the whirl an ugust slips into the rich plants are found in far distant seeds or shoot them out. Hard the wind pushing against the com- When a seed is detached by the the seeds by centr of September, the bright places where climate and soil covered seeds borne in fruit may be paratively long, asymmetrical wing wind, the little parachute is carried distances traveled s of June and July are conditions are similar. Were plants eaten by birds or animals, pass attached to the seed. By itself the away by a longer lasting blow than a than in the case of g to account for them- unable to spread, they would cease through the alimentary system seed would be too heavy to ride the puff of breath. Dandelion seeds may that is why, if you And the plants whose bloom- to thrive because of overcrowding unharmed, and be expelled miles wind, but with the power given it by be carried for many miles to come others are apt to b didn't notice very much are and competition for light, water, from their place of origin. Some the wing it can travel considerable to rest on the earth, possibly to be Some plants act el same thing. For flowering and the nutrients they need from the seeds are hitch-hikers, clinging to distances away from the parent picked up again and carried farther. seeds. This is he goal of each summer is soil. fur or clothing by means of burrs or tree. The parachutes of hawkweed are some relatively CO duction. As a consequence of the necessity barbed spines. The seeds of pines, spruce, and fir similar, although stubbier and the logical processes al reached, the plant faces for seeds to travel, plants have Flying seeds have wings. You've are pressed tightly under the scales seed is attached directly at the base. particular to each er task. The seeds must go developed a number of clever probably watched a maple seed, of the cones, two under each scale. The flat round seeds of the The jewel weed, the world and make their devices to help the seeds on their detached from the parent plant and Frequently the cones of these milkweed are snugly packed into a is a fun plant for . This is the way plants way. Some fly, others float in the air powered by the wind, spin around species are borne high on the tree; pod; each seed is attached to a The long slim seed so the seeds have a good start for tightly pressed tassel of white hairs in segments loos their get-away. When the cone several times longer than the seed. each other. The dries, the scales turn back, the When the pod dries and pops open, even a jerk by seeds are released. Each one is the seeds and their tassels of fine segments to curl b embeded at the end of an oval hair are subjected to the drying the power of the shaped wing, which is straight along effect of sun and air. When the hairs sufficient to sho one edge. Wind has the same effect are dried, they puff out, and when reasonable distan on the wing as in the case of the the wind sways the plants, they Violets also sh maple. detach and float away. Sometimes a although generally Use of air power is somewhat number of them go at the same pods do not roll modified for linden trees. In this time, a verible flight of migrating weed but can species the blossoms grow on a stem milkweeds. enough force to attached at about the center of a A good many other plants, such as away from the boat-shaped leaf-like structure sev- the willow herb or fireweed and A quite differen eral inches long called a bract. As cattails, use the same device. disposal may resu the seeds ripen, their weight turns Some plants disperse their seeds fort to people and the bract flat in a horizontal by air without the use of wings or in effect hitch-h position; when the wind breaks the parachutes. themselves by m bract from the twig, it planes away The seeds of the pink mocccasin, barbed needles to from the tree like a tiny dirigible a member of the orchid family, are Anyone who has carrying the seeds with it. as fine as dust and, like dust, may a wild burdock The floaters, such as the seeds of be blown great distances by the The prickles on dandelions, hawkweed, and milk- wind. clothing and clin weed, have an even more efficient The seeds of columbine are borne device for traveling long distances. in six tiny hollow columns loosely