St Nicholas [serial] . rizona and New Mexicothose odd plants, the cacti, growin great numbers. Some ofthem take strange shapes—tall,fluted columns, branching cande-labra, or mere round balls, likethe melon-cactus. They are al-most the only plants that grow insome parts of that country, andthere is always plenty of sap in-side their tough skins. To the hun-gry and thirsty creatures that roamthose dreary wastes in search offood and water they are very tempt-ing. Were they not in some wayprotected, these cacti would soon be entirely destroyed. But Nature has made themto be like strong forts or gr
St Nicholas [serial] . rizona and New Mexicothose odd plants, the cacti, growin great numbers. Some ofthem take strange shapes—tall,fluted columns, branching cande-labra, or mere round balls, likethe melon-cactus. They are al-most the only plants that grow insome parts of that country, andthere is always plenty of sap in-side their tough skins. To the hun-gry and thirsty creatures that roamthose dreary wastes in search offood and water they are very tempt-ing. Were they not in some wayprotected, these cacti would soon be entirely destroyed. But Nature has made themto be like strong forts or great armored battle-ships among plants. They are guarded by allsorts of sharp spines and prickles and fine hairsthat burn when they get into the flesh. Besides the large grazing animals, there aresmaller enemies — insects and the like — thatinjure plants by eating holes in their leaves, orby feeding upon the delicate petals of theflower. Many are the ways plants have ofguarding against these little destroyers. One. BLACK-BERRY VINE. of the oddestmeans of self-de-fense is that usedby a plant ofsouthern Europe— the Serratula,a sort of cousinofourshowypur-ple plant has abitter foe in theshape of a small beetlethat eats its are in heads,like the heads of thistles,the blossoms being protectedon the outside by circles ofthick scales. When he can succeedin getting at them, the hungry beetle 62 PLANTS AND THEIR ENEMIES. [Nov. bites right through the protecting scales andinto the heart of the flowers. While the plant is in blossom drops of sweethoney form on the scales. This attracts num-bers of ants, who are very fond of it. Butshould a beetle come flying toward the flower-head, the ants stop feeding, rear upon theirhind legs, and open their strong jaws, all readyfor battle. Then Mr. Beetle usually finds hehas important business in another direction,and takes himself off. Thus, instead of de-fending itself against robbers, the Serratulahas a troop
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidstnicholasserial251dodg
