38 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Such a hypothesis as this is at best only tentative, and its 

 chief value lies in the stimulus it gives to research, and the aid 

 it affords in placing subsequent hypotheses on a more solid 

 foundation. There are numerous other problems of considerable 

 interest in connection with both the internal and external 

 distribution of our indigenous plants, but these will not be 

 dealt with here. 



BOTANICAL INTRODUCTION. 



Plant Life. 

 At one time people spoke as if the life of the plant were 

 different from that of the animal. There are few so ignorant 

 now as to think that a distinction can be drawn between 

 plant and animal life. The plant responds to stimuli, 

 reproduces its kind, and grows, just as the animal does. 

 Moreover, every plant has the power of spontaneous motion as 

 a whole, or in some of its parts. Amongst the higher plants, 

 movements are confined to parts of the plant — the tendrils of 

 the vine twine ; the stamens of the barberry respond to a 

 touch with a jumping motion ; the leaves of many plants close 

 at night ; others alter their position with the direction of the 

 light that falls upon them. In all, there are movements in 

 response to gravitation, and to the action of light, and in 

 connection with the processes of growth. In recent times 

 sensation has been claimed for many plants. All apparently 

 have the power of " sensing " gravitation, and some have been 

 recently declared by Haberlandt to possess " ocelli " for perceiv- 

 ing light. However, the life of the plant is so remote from all 

 that man knows of himself, that he can never hope to do more 

 than realize its meaning very imperfectly, though it can 

 scarcely be doubted that the more fully he can appreciate it, 

 and the more fully he can enter into sympathy with it, the 

 more fully will he understand himself. 



