376 



The Living Plant 



Nature betrays her secrets." But so many monstrosities are 

 known which cannot be interpreted as reversions that we must 

 consider them rather as results of disturbance of the growth 

 processes, though we have no idea as to the ultimate causes. 

 They can mostly be interpreted in terms of failure of action on 

 the part of the suitable stimuli. Thus, in green roses, the stimuli 



FIG. 146. Typical examples of water-rolled weed balls, photographed about two-fifths 

 the natural size (the squares of the screen are each one centimeter). The largest is 

 composed of various Algae; the next in size, of Spruce needles; the njxt, of Pipe-wort; 

 the oval one, of hair; while the composition of the fifth is uncertain. 



which started the formation of a flower bud instead of a leaf bud 

 worked properly, but those which controlled its farther develop- 

 ment did not. But as to the causes of such failure of stimuli we 

 have no information. 



In connection with plant-structures of odd mode of growth, we 

 must take note of one having a very different character. On 



