Fig. 116
There are some plants which take root in the branches of trees. Many members of the Orchid family perch themselves aloft in this fashion. But the roots which provide these plants with the greater part of their nourishment are those which hang loosely in the air. One of these orchids you see in the picture (Fig. [117]). It is found in warm countries. The orchids of our part of the world grow in the ground in everyday fashion, and look much like other plants.
Fig. 117
These hanging roots which you see in the picture are covered with a sponge-like material, by means of which they suck in from the air water and gases.
In summer, while hunting berries or wild flowers by the stream that runs through the pasture, you have noticed that certain plants seemed to be caught in a tangle of golden threads. If you stopped to look at this tangle, you found little clusters of white flowers scattered along the thread-like stems (Fig. [118]); then, to your surprise, you discovered that nowhere was this odd-looking stem fastened to the ground.
It began and ended high above the earth, among the plants which crowded along the brook’s edge.
Fig. 118
Perhaps you broke off one of these plants about which the golden threads were twining. If so, you found that these threads were fastened firmly to the plant by means of little roots which grew into its stem, just as ordinary roots grow into the earth.