Now when these leaves of water-plants are made to grow to the top of the water and live, they are broad, and often shaped like a shield. They are to spread out on the surface of the water, and catch all the air and sunshine that they can. But there are other kinds of water-plants which have their leaves growing down under the water. All these leaves made to stay in the water are fringe-like and narrow. They look like wide leaves cut into many small strips. Most sea-weeds have fringe-like leaves. Yet there are sea-weeds with wide leaves. They, like the fish, are made to live in the water all the time. The fresh-water plants generally mean to come to the top of the water some time. They have green leaves. Their leaves can keep green only by the action on them of the air and light. This is why the leaf is made fringe-like. Its fringed leaves act as a net, floating around in the water. These leaf-nets catch not fish, but air-bubbles, and rays of light. The water crow-foot, or water buttercup, has two kinds of leaves. Those at the bottom of the stalk are all in fine fringes. The leaves at the top are broad, like other crow-foot leaves. There are some water-plants which do not root at the bottom of the pond. They spend all their lives floating about. A little plant called “duck-weed” is one of them. It has a soft, green body like two halves of a tiny pea. Its roots are three or four fine threads. It gathers all its food from the water. Most water-plants have two sets of roots. One set holds the plant fast in its place. The other roots spring from the base of the leaves. They gather food from the water. Now, while leaves that grow in the water are fringe-like, I think you will see that leaves of plants that grow in sand must be just the opposite. If you examine a plant growing in dry sand, you will find that it has thick, soft, juicy leaves. The leaves of sand-plants are seldom flat. They are shaped like fringes, or the palm of your hand, or like little rolls. Why is that? Can you not guess? The roots of these sand-living plants can get very little water. Only when rain and heavy dew fall can they get moisture. If they are wise little plants, they will store moisture up. These sand-plants store up food and moisture in their leaves. It may surprise you that plants, growing in such dry places, have leaves so full of juice. The leaves are their pantry. They are full of saved-up water. You will notice another thing. Many of the sand-plants have their leaves covered with prickles, hooks, and thorns. The leaves are rough, like burrs. Why is that? Is it not so, that birds and beasts will not want to eat them? If the leaves are nipped off by animals, these plants must die. Their sand home gives them no water for their roots. If the leaves are eaten, all the plant must perish.