PLANTS. 49 



drink, and digest at the same time. No one part 

 seems to be different from or better than another. 



With plants of a more complex nature, there are 

 special organs for the production of seeds, and from 

 these new plants grow. Simple plants are pro- 

 duced by the simple cell dividing into two parts. 

 Each part becomes a perfect plant and looks just 

 like the parent cell. By and by these two divide in 

 the same manner, giving rise to four plants. 

 These four again divide, giving rise to eight plants, 

 and so on. An infinite number might thus come 

 into existence were it not for the fact that many 

 are destroyed, and many more die from the lack 

 of food and other things necessary for such a life. 



Most of the very simple plants live either in 

 water, or on substances where a great deal of 

 water is present. If from any cause the moisture 

 disappears, the plants cease to grow; but most of 

 them have the power of reviving on the return of 

 the supply of moisture. 



HOW COMPLEX PLANTS DEVELOP. 



Complex organisms are those that have special 

 organs set apart for special purposes. Thus, 

 instead of drinking in water all over their surfaces, 

 as the simple plants do, complex plants have roots, 

 by means of which they drink. These roots are 

 especially fitted to do that work, and they do it 

 well because they have few other burdens imposed 

 upon them. Instead of breathing with the whole 



