114 FOUNDATIONS OF BIOLOGY 



generation in the life history which it provoked wanes in im- 

 portance as we proceed from the lower to the highest plants, 

 but in spite of this the sex act itself is retained and shows its 

 modifying powers even in the asexual generation. Obviously 

 some advantages must be gained in the long run by fertiliza- 

 tion, other than the establishment of another generation 

 in the life history, or such devious methods culminating 

 in the flower would not be elaborated for its preservation. 

 We shall leave this large problem until we take up the ques- 

 tion of sex in animals, since sexuality is a fundamental attri- 

 bute of both plants and animals which profoundly affects 

 their morphology and physiology. 



