XI 
THE SPECIAL COLOURS OF PLANTS 
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generally admitted to be the result of the simple principle of 
economy of material applied to a primitive cylindrical cell. 1 
In studying the phenomena of colour in the organic world 
we have been led to realise the wonderful complexity of the 
adaptations which bring each species into harmonious relation 
with all those which surround it, and which thus link together 
the whole of nature in a network of relations of marvellous 
intricacy. Yet all this is but, as it were, the outward show 
and garment of nature, behind which lies the inner structure 
—the framework, the vessels, the cells, the circulating fluids, 
and the digestive and reproductive processes,—and behind 
these again those mysterious chemical, electrical, and vital 
forces which constitute what we term Life. These forces 
appear to be fundamentally the same for all organisms, as 
is the material of which all are constructed; and Ave thus 
find behind the outer diversities an inner relationship which 
binds together the myriad forms of life. 
Each species of animal or plant thus forms part of one 
harmonious whole, carrying in all the details of its complex 
structure the record of the long story of organic development; 
and it was with a truly inspired insight that our great philo¬ 
sophical poet apostrophised the humble weed— 
Flower in the crannied wall, 
I pluck you out of the crannies, 
I hold you here, root and all, in my hand, 
Little flower—but if I could understand 
What you are, root and all, and all in all, 
I should know what God and man is. 
1 See Origin of Sixties, sixth edition, p. 220. 
Z 
