The Maple in Fruit.
On the Birch trees we may now see the ripe female catkins, consisting of hundreds of minute fruits, closely packed together, each provided with a wing on either side. They are very light, and easily blown a considerable distance by the wind; and late in the autumn we may observe the stalks of the catkins, from which some of the fruits have been blown, still on the trees.
The wings that thus aid in the dispersion of fruits are not always part of the fruit itself. In the Hornbeam it is a three-lobed, persistent bract that performs this function; and the fruits of the Lime are also blown away by the aid of a large bract from the middle of which the fruit-stalk projects.
The Wayfaring Tree, in Fruit.
Some of our trees present a glorious aspect during the autumn months, displaying conspicuous and more or less brightly-coloured fruits in combination with the varied autumn tints of their leaves. The red foliage of the Mountain Ash or Rowan is accompanied by the still brighter clusters of scarlet fruits—little apple-like pomes, about the size of holly 'berries'; and the Wayfaring Tree bears pretty clusters of flattened, oval, one-seeded berries which are first red, and then nearly black. The Guelder Rose, while still in full leaf, is often very heavily laden with its bright red, semi-transparent berries; and the violet foliage of the Dogwood is intermingled with clusters of little berry-like drupes which, at first green, have now changed to a rich purple-black. Then there is the Spindle Tree, with its pretty red lobed capsules which split, when ripe, at its angles, disclosing as many cells as there are lobes (usually four), each with a single seed enclosed in an orange jacket. Occasionally we meet with the Strawberry Tree, during early autumn, bearing both flower and fruit at the same time. This tree flowers in September and October, but the fruits which accompany the flowers are those of the previous year, for they require more than twelve months to come to maturity. The fruit is a large berry, of an orange-red colour, with a granulated surface that gives it somewhat the appearance of the strawberry. It should be mentioned that the Strawberry Tree is not indigenous to England, and is seldom seen outside parks and gardens; but it grows wild in Ireland, and is very abundant round Killarney and in other parts.
In conclusion, we must note one autumn flower of the woods which is exceedingly common—that of the Ivy (Hedera Helix), belonging to the order Araliaceæ. The Ivy is an evergreen climber, fixing itself by means of little rootlike suckers attached to the main stem and its branches, while the lower branches trail along the ground. The leaves are thick and glossy, usually of a deep green colour, but often beautifully variegated. Those attached to the trailing and climbing stems have three or five lobes, are always turned with one surface towards the light, and are so arranged as to obtain the maximum of light, the less exposed leaves below catching the rays which pass between the lobes of those which are more favourably situated.
The Strawberry Tree in Flower, with the Fruits (Almost Ripe) of the Previous Year.