To those familiar with the wealth of diversity 

 that prevails in the sea, it is no secret that this 

 region is nevertheless without a single plant that 

 blooms. I here refer, of course, to that vegetation 

 strictly marine, and not to those higher forms of 

 the land which have become adapted to their newer 

 habitat along the shore. To others this circum- 

 stance might appear puzzling were it not ex- 

 plained by the fact that seaweeds are without ex- 

 ception algal growths and therefore need no blos- 

 soms for their propagation. Nevertheless, it would 

 appear that Nature has not neglected to endow the 

 salt-water world with a floral beauty of sorts. In- 

 deed, no greater grace is given to any than that 

 which is found in certain flower-like animals of 

 the sea; for theirs is that rarest of possessions: the 

 perfection of symmetrical proportion combined 

 with simplicity of form. In addition, they are 

 oftentimes still more enhanced by the coloration 

 of their parts or appendages — details always 

 adorning, but making them doubly attractive when 

 invested with even so common a hue as is their nat- 

 ural shade, sometimes of saffron, of brown, of 

 pink, of blue. In truth, there are some among the 



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