THE PLANT WORLD. 121 



around towards the soil and finally go in it, thus showing the influence 

 of water or Hydrotropism. 



XII. Protandry is the name give to that case in the flower polli- 

 nation when the pollen is ready for distribution; hut the stigmas are 

 not yet ready to receive it. 



XIII. Parasites are those plants that live on other plants called 

 hosts. Thev attain from the hosts all their nourishment, grettino- it 

 either from the limbs or from the roots of other trees. 



XIV. We have early flowering herbs in rich woodland; because if 

 they came late they would be entirely shaded by the heavy foliage and 

 so could not thrive. So only by flowering early are they able to have 

 sunlight. 



XV. Carnivorous plants are those which, on account of the lack of 

 protein or other sul)stances in the soil, capture insects and get these 

 substances from the bodies of the insects. 



XVI. Gametes are the two sperms which come tog-ether to form 

 an egg in reproduction. 



XVII. Xerophytes are })lants which belong to that societ}'^ which 

 inhabits a dry and hot region. They inhabit a region where there is 

 much light, a great scarcity of water, where there are dry winds, and 

 wdiere the air is always hot. 



XVIII. Plants prepare for winter or drought, in many diflferent 

 ways. Some like the compass plants and others assume proflle posi- 

 tions, in respect to the leaves, that is a position in which the leaves 

 are set edgewise. Some fold their leaves up while some shed their 

 leaves altogether. Some assume protective positions in the leaves l)y 

 means of the palisade tissue and others b}^ means of the hardening of 

 the epidermis, thus forining the cuticle. Some plants dry up and l)e- 

 come crumbled, but at the appearance of moisture come again. Other 

 plants dry up in respect to the stem, while only the roots reuiain in 

 the ground until there is moisture or heat again. 



XIX. In a cactus desert the cacti of all kinds are scattered all 

 about with their prickly forms everywhere in the way. There is al- 

 most nothing else for nothing else will live in this hot, rocky soil. 



In a tiiicket there are quite a good many kinds of })lants. There 

 are small trees and under these are tall herbs and then small herbs in 

 the undergrowth. There are also many briars and mosses and weeds 

 making the way almost impassable. 



XX. In a prairie the principal plants are the grasses which are 



