70 THE PLANT WORLD. 



the ground covering of minor plants and shrubs, even to the tiny 

 mosses, became a subject of inquiry to this circle. 



In the course of his botanical studies Goethe became specially in- 

 terested in the adaptations of plants to their environment, and the 

 changes which they undergo to adapt themselves to their altered con- 

 ditions. He anticipated in this some of the ideas that have since been 

 brought out so forcibly in connection with evolution. His views of 

 these matters were particularly helped by the journey into Italy. The 

 part of his account immediately bearing on the visit to the palm tree 

 and its results to him are best given in his own words which are trans- 

 lated from the "sequel." After mentioning the adaptation of plants 

 to climate and other conditions of environment he continues: "My 

 adjustment to nature and especially to the plant world was greatly ad- 

 vanced by a hasty journey across the Alps. The larch trees more 

 abundant than heretofore seen, the cone of the stone pine \^Pinus Cein- 

 Jr«], a new form, strongly called my attention to the influence of the 

 climate. Other plants more or less changed did not escape notice in 

 my rapid passage. But more especially did I remark the affluence (>f 

 a foreign veoetation when I entered the Botanical Garden of Padua. 

 From a high and broad wall the tiery-red bells of Bkjnonia radlcaas 

 glowed charmingly over against me. Here I saAv many rare trees 

 growing in the open air which I had seen at home wintered under 

 glass. Plants also protected against transient cold during the season 

 of greater severity were now standing in the open, and delighted in 

 the salutary air of heaven. 



Ki^^Xi-^^m. {CharnaeropH liinn'dis) attracted my whole attention. 

 Fortunately the undivided lanceolate first leaves were still standing at 

 the base; their successive division was increasing until finally the fan- 

 shaped leaf was seen in its completed form. A flower branch arose 

 from a spathe-like sheath. It seemed a singular product, strange and 

 surprising, standing unrelated to the preceding growth. At my re- 

 quest the gardener cut oflP for me the complete succession of these 

 changes and I burdened myself with a large package in order to carry 

 away my discovery. They lie before me as I took them with me at 

 the time, still well preserved, and I revere them as a fetish, which, 

 having adequately served to arouse and fix my attention, seemed to 

 promise a successful result to my labors. 



The changeableness in the forms of plants, which I had traced for 

 a, long time in its peculiar course, now awakened in me still more 



