2o6 SAGAC/TV AND MORALITY OF PLANTS. 



which are epiphytal — that is, have taken to growing 

 upon the bark of trees, so that they can get Hght, 

 air, and sun at an elevation they otherwise could 

 not possibly hope for, or afford to personally obtain 

 — seldom have many leaves. But, to make up for 

 the lack of organs specially adapted for the work of 

 accumulating energy (doubly important when we 

 remember how lavishly the flowers of Orchids are 

 called upon to expend), the surfaces of the stems, 

 and even of the green roots, are usually covered with 

 stomata, and thus make up for the deficiency of 

 leaves and small amount of work which would have 

 been done had not some other parts of the plant thus 

 generously come to their aid. 



It is possible that many plants are animals — that 

 is, only live a single season, because of the immense 

 number of seeds they are obliged to produce in the 

 interest of the species to which they belong. The 

 latter would be unable to hold its own in the keen 

 specific competition constantly going on unless it 

 was helped out this way, just as the perpetuation of 

 rabbits, rats, and other rodents, depends entirely upon 

 their marvellous fecundity. 



