By the end of August most of these beautiful blossoms had disappeared, leaving in their place the fruit. This fruit of the fireweed or willow herb is a long pod such as you see in the picture (Fig. [51]). This pod is packed full of seeds, to each one of which is fastened a silky sail. Finally all these pods split open, letting out their little air ships (Fig. [52]), and giving a beautiful, feathery look to the great patches in which they are found.
Fig. 52
Fig. 53
Fig. 54
Another plant which launches air ships is the clematis. In August its pretty white blossoms clamber over the stone wall, and twist about the bushes and trees, making the lanes very lovely. In the fall this climber is almost as pretty as in summer, for its fruit clusters (Fig. [53]) are made of such long-tailed seeds as you see in Fig. [54]. When these open, and float away with the first light wind, you can see how well their little sails are fitted to catch the breeze.
Fig. 55