PLANT-LIFEFORMATION. 207 



a division is that the stem or trunk is ignored 

 in its double and mediating character between 

 the two extremes, or ends, for it is both root 

 and shoot, growing downward as well as up- 

 ward, nightward as well as lightward, termi- 

 nating in rootlet as well as in leaflet. Thus 

 the Plant Organism, if it be divided accord- 

 ing to its inner nature and process, must be 

 taken as constituted of three basic members 

 which unite into the one organic whole as 

 vegetal stem or trunk, root with fibrils, and 

 top with branches or foliage. 



The stem we put first, as it is the central 

 shaft from which radiate the two ends into 

 their symmetrical systems of ramification- 

 the one in the earthy element, the other in the 

 aerial. Moreover it has the tendency to be 

 cylindrical, in itself and also in its off-shoots 

 (excepting the leaf), which form indicates 

 that the original spherical shape of Nature, 

 which is so common in the bodies of the Cos- 

 mos, is elongated by pushing outwards in 

 two opposite directions. Plant-life, germi- 

 nating originally doubtless from primal 

 earth-life (Protobioticon) expands the first 

 seed-ball as a little round cell into the cylin- 

 der, which remains so characteristic of vege- 

 tation. Embryonically the stem is first al- 

 ready (the caulicle) to which the cotyledons 

 (seed-leaves) are attached; thus it would 



