190 SYMBIOGENESIS 



energy. Nevertheless, it must be borne in mind that what 

 charges of energy a colloidal aggregate conveys, depends 

 greatly on the " inner nature," i.e., the character, i.e., on the 

 general use-relatedness in the world of life of the constituent 

 elements. 



If, in the case of colloids, the surface tension assumes a 

 particular importance so as to impart special dynamic or 

 "vital" properties to these bodies, not possessed by crystal- 

 loids, this may be partially explained as due to their past 

 evolutionary (symbiogenetic) history, much as the powers of 

 storing energy on the part of the plant were gradually and 

 symbiogenetically evolved. 



We have seen that in the case of plantagens, the phase of 

 efflorescence of sex involves a more intense internal 

 co-operative and also external symbiotic activity a higher 

 "symbiotic" potential as it were than is required by the 

 mere asexual phase ; sex and its concomitant good effects thus 

 representing the highest dynamic and symbiogeiietic achieve- 

 ment of the plantagen community. 



We have seen it to be similar in the case of the more 

 purely bio-economic synthesis struck up by the lichen, where 

 we found high symbiotic potential closely associated with high 

 chemical and high electrical potentials, and also, again, with 

 high forms of use-relatedness in the world of life. We also 

 insisted that in every case the higher phase was led up to by 

 adequate previous work and adequate " nutritional " amphi- 

 mixis based upon adequate reciprocal differentiation. 



We must assume that something similar takes place in the 

 evolution of the elements which brings them eventually to the 

 " colloidal " efflorescence. 



Dr. H. Leiser indeed speaks, though, of course, somewhat 

 figuratively, of the groups of peoples and of the clans and 

 tribes inhabiting the colloidal world of their peculiarities, 

 conditions of existence, their external appearance, etc. ; and 

 von Zsigmondy, who was the first mortal to observe these 

 "populations" by means of the ultramicroscope, tells us that 



