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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 13, 1962)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1962 A 3 It hardly seems possible, but there really is a plant that actually lives on air. The air-plant, so named be cause it docs receive its nour ishment from the air. is a prosaic relative of the pine apple. It has solved the high cost of living by using the only free thing we have, and plenty of it Perched, monkey-like, in the crotch of a tree, it gathers its invisible food from the at mosphere and intercepts the rain before it reaches the Small Worlds Around Us ground. The final end to its life cycle is little more than a slow and painless process of dehydrating tissues. Produces Babies Usually, before it docs "curl up and die" it produces one or more baby air-plants grow ing robustly upon the aged leaves, ready to continue the species. The backward curling, ra ther stiff leaves of the tiue air-plant form at their base a natural reservoir that retains a supply of water for the plant's use during periods of prolonged drought. The loaves also are concave on their up per surface which tends to funnel what rain or dew that forms into the little cistern. Dead insects drown in this stored water, their decompos ing bodies adding somewhat to the food the plant needs. Bits of broken leaves from other plants also decompose in the water, adding their bit to the food supply. By such methods the air-plant cheats a little, but air will do if no insect or decaying vegetable matter Is available. During the early spring a stiff, erect flower stalk grows up from the rosette of long, pointed leaves and bears a reddish-brown flower. It is not a pretty blossom, but it suits the air-plant. From this peculiar flower many seeds sift out. Some are carried by air to lodge on some other "landing field." where the young plant will develop a system of "holding leaves" which grasp the near est solid support and hold the newly born air-plant. Grows Large Living on air, the young plant, if unmolested, will reach a considerable size in a year's time; may even de velop into an object as large as a half-bushel basket. And does it all on air. Should a wind or some other force dislodge the plant from its perch, the curled, stiff leaves often will catch and hold to the first twig, branch or rough tree-bark it touches. If this happens, the "clasping roots" at the base of the plant will take hold and encircle the perch. These holding fingers will grip the branch tightly and the plant will start to right itself into a position where the rain and dew can feed into the storage vat. Should the air-plant fall upside down on the ground, death eventu ally will follow; it cannot even get "a breath of air." lis preferred habitat is above the earth, up in a tree ONE BIG PARTY Milwaukee -IIPD- Frank J. Jazdzewski, 67, veteran mem ber of the Milwaukee County Safety Commission, was fined $100 Tuesday for reckless driving while returning home from a party for another safe ty commission official. The judge who imposed the fine also attended the party. HeR's m CARDS FOR SUNDAY. JUNE 17 V hen you care enoupK to lend the very best Cwom'c 217 E. Main UTVeni 9 Medford V A. "v (Ri llller i TMbunt Syndicate, 1963) where its half-dry tissues can absorb that mysterious "something" that is contained in air and water. Plant That Livei on. Air, Called Air-plant, oi Course WM CHOOSE THE MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON Sealy Posturepedic' THAT PAMPERS YOU 171 0 ST P'-N It n Mrk PSa www jam fl H tOI KT ff All VT' 1Z K ri n cr-a e 13.1 Ik til n We believe we have the finest selec tion of sleep furniture in Southern Oregon not only in quantity & price but also in QUALITY . .'. featuring such nationally famous brands as Simmons, Sealy and Serta at a price range to suit every pocketbook. 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