Fig. 49
In this picture you see some of the air ships of the milkweed (Fig. [49]).
The lower part of Fig. [48] is a seedbox of the milkweed. To this are fastened the silky threads which make the sail that carries the seed through the air with the least wind, just as the canvas sail carries the boat across the water.
Can you think of some other plants that send abroad seed sailboats?
Perhaps some of you remember the beautiful pink or purple flowers which grew last summer in tall spikes along the road and up the mountain side. These were borne upon a plant called sometimes fireweed and again willow herb (Fig. [50]). The first name was given to it because it grows freely in places that have been laid waste by fire. The latter one it owes to its leaves, which look somewhat like those of the willow.
Fig. 50
Fig. 51