The Angiosperms 185 



Whatever may have been their origin, the extraor- 

 dinary fitness of these plants to modern conditions 

 is obvious, and they have taken possession of the 

 land-areas of the whole world almost to the com- 

 plete exclusion of other plant types. Only under 

 exceptionally favorable conditions are the lower 

 plant types able to hold their own in competition 

 with the all-conquering angiosperms. 



