DTVEEGENCE OF CHARACTER 213 



together, and thereby the area may support more plants than 

 iroiild be possible if only one kind ivere growing on it. This 

 principle has been called by Darwin the divergence of 

 character. When an area is occupied by one kind of 



303. On the top of an evergreen forest. 



plant, another kind may grow between or beneath. Oulj' 

 rarely do plants of close botanical relationship grow to- 

 gether in compact communities. A field which is full of 

 corn may grow pumpkins between. Fig. 358. A full 

 meadow may grow white clover in the bottom. In a dense 

 wood herbs may grow on the forest floor. When au. 



