292 GLOSSARY 



COMPOSITE. A family of plants, including the daisy, 

 chrysanthemum, and many others. 



CONJUGATION. The process of fusion of a pair of gametes. 



COROLLA. The second envelope of a flower, consisting of 

 petals leaf-like organs usually brightly coloured. 



CORPUSCLE. A very minute particle. 



CYTOLOGY. The scientific study of the minute con- 

 stituent parts of organisms by the aid of the microscope. 



DENUDATION. The wearing away of the earth's surface by 

 the action of rain, rivers, etc. 



DIFFERENTIATION. The separation or discrimination of 

 parts which were previously more or less united and uniform. 



EMBRYO, A young plant or animal usually one which is 

 still contained in the seed or the womb. 



EMBRYOLOGY. The history of the development of young 

 plants or animals from the egg. 



ENVIRONMENT. Natural surroundings. 



EVOLUTION. See p. 21. 



FAMILY. A group of allied genera, as the family of apes 

 (Anthropoids), the buttercup family (Ranunculacea}. 



FAUNA. The sum total of animals inhabiting a particular 

 region. 



FERTILIZATION. The union of male and female repro- 

 ductive cells or gametes. 



FLORETS. The separate flowers of a crowded inflorescence. 



GAMETES. Sexual cells which unite in conjugation or 

 fertilization. 



GENUS. A group of allied species. 



GEOLOGY. The study of the earth's crust. 



GEOMETRIC RATE OF INCREASE. Progress consisting in 

 successive multiplications of the preceding number, instead 

 of simply in additions to it. 



GERM-CELLS. See GAMETES. 



HERBALIST. One who collects and studies herbs. 



HEREDITY. The transference of similar characters from 

 one generation of organisms to another, a process effected by 

 means of the germ-cells or gametes. 



