Contents 



CHAPTER VI 



MOSSES AND PEAT p^cE 



Theory of a moss — Rain absorbed — Protection afforded by moss cushions 

 — Soil formation — Cannibal moss fronds — Fog of pasture — 

 Sphagnum — Formation of a peat moss — Antiseptic properties — 

 Bogslides of a destructive character — Surface-dried mosses — 

 Establishment of heather — Scotch fir seedlings — Cottongrass swamps 

 — Reclamation of peat in Scotland, Switzerland — Cranberry culture 

 — Peat products — Electrical works run by peat fuel ... 70 



CHAPTER VII 



THE FERN ALLIANCE 



The Perie bush — Fern glades and Tree-fern forests — Coal-measure forests 

 — Insects and animal life — Formationof coal in estuaries — Petroleum 

 — Ingenious discoveries in coal fossils — Climate of the coal measures 

 — Development of seed plants — Origin of a land flora^ — Seed plants 

 in the coal measures — Distribution by fish — Jurassic flora — Bracken 

 in Scotland — Its use as food 79 



CHAPTER VIII 



ALPINE AND ARCTIC FLORAS 



The summit of a British hill — Open floras — Competition for root-hold — 

 Sphagnum v. blaeberry v. cottongrass v. grassheaths — Tundra of 

 Arctics — P'rozen willows — Loss of water — Dry cold of Tibet and 

 the Andes — Dwarfing of Alpines — Plants at 19,000 feet — Dwarf 

 Juniper distribution and growth — Arctic and Alpine weeds — Alpine 

 gardens — Rich ilower colours — Ancient circumpolar flowers — Balkan 

 alpines — Luzula in history 89 



CHAPTER IX 



THE ANTARCTIC 



Algae, lichen and mosses at both poles — South America and New 

 Zealand — Azorella in the Andes — Bullet-proof plant — Continent 

 ends— Seed distribution — Albatross and Gentian — Wind-blown 

 fruits — Connection of Grahamland and Patagonia — Effects on 

 circulation of air and water — Common plants of Fuegia and New 

 Zealand — Antarctic beechwood — Snares Island .... 99 



CHAPTER X 



FLOWERS 



Thais and the rose of Jericho — What is a flower ? — Origin of sepals and 

 petals — Work in a flower petal — Yellow flowers — Colour propor- 

 tions — Genealogy of colours — Sunlight — Egyptian flowers — Cleisto- 

 gamy — Bougainvillea and Bluebeard salvia — A tropical orchid — 

 Colour V. Scent — Moths and painted flowers — Cycadofilix and 

 Mayfly to orchid and bee — Insects and birds appearing with spring 

 flowers — Insect visits and specialisation of flowers — Evening moths 

 and campion — Shepherds' clocks — Opening of flowers — November 

 flowers — Honey — Spurs — Wax — Ray florets — Erigeron — Stamens 

 and nourishment — Bee and Spider orchid — Geranium stalks — 

 Selection 108 



