PHYSIOLOGY OF THE RED MANGROVE. 595 



corroded by the action of the salt, and bearing a considerable re- 

 semblance to vegetable substances that have been thrown up and 

 abandoned by the tides, they are seen to embrace the arid sands 

 of the seashore with their naked roots just like so many polypi. 

 When the tide rises, buffeted by the waves, there they stand, fixed 

 and immovable, nay, more, at high water they are completely cov- 

 ered, a fact which proves to conviction that they derive their nutri- 

 ment from the salt contained in the water. The size of the trees is 

 quite marvelous ; in appearance they strongly resemble the arbute ; 

 the fruit which on the outside is very similar to the almond, has a 

 spiral kernel within." 



In 70 A.D. Plutarch^ published his " Moralia " and under the 

 heading of AITIA ^YSIKA, Nature studies, discussed the topic or 

 question Ata rt t6 daXdrTLOv vBwp ov Tpi4>u to. SeVSpa; or '* What is the 

 reason that seawater nourishes not trees ? " The passage is given in 

 full, as the argument is sustained very quaintly throughout the para- 

 graph. " Is it not for the same reason that it nourishes not earthly 

 animals? For Plato, Anaxagorus and Democritus think plants are 

 earthly animals. Nor, though sea water be aliment to marine plants, 

 as it is to fishes, will it therefore nourish earthly plants, since it 

 can neither penetrate the roots, because of its grossness, nor ascend, 

 by reason of its weight, for this among many other things, shows 

 sea water to be heavy and terrane, because it more easily bears up 

 ships and swimmers. Or is it because drought is a great enemy to 

 trees ? For sea water is of a drying faculty ; upon which account 

 salt resists putrefaction, and the bodies of such as wash in the sea 

 are presently dry and rough. Or is it because oil is destructive to 

 earthly plants and kills things anointed with it ? But sea water par- 

 ticipates of much fatness ; for it burns together with it. Where- 

 fore, when men would quench fire we forbid them to throw on sea 

 water. Or is it because sea water is not fit to drink and bitter (as 

 Aristotle says) through a mixture of burnt earth? For a lye is 

 made by the falling of ashes into sweet water, and the dissolution 

 ejects what was good and potable, as in men, fevers convert humors 

 into bile as for what woods and plants, men talk of growing in the 

 Red Sea, they bear no fruit but are nourished by rivers casting up 



■ Plutarch, "Moralia," 911 D-F, Goodwin trans., HI., p. 495. 



PROC. AMER. PHIL. SOC. , VOL. LVI, MM, JANUARY 8, igiS. 



