CHAPTER XXXII. 



FORM, COLOR AND ODOR OF PLANTS. 



PLANTS seem to differ widely in structure and in the processes 

 of nutrition and reproduction, but a careful investigation shows 

 that all plants are composed of essentially the same elements, so 

 that the processes of nutrition must be about the same among all. 

 And so with the process of reproduction, it is simply the formation 

 of new cells, whether in the humble protococcus or in the stately 

 oak. And the same is true in the matter of structure; every plant 

 structure, however complicated, is made up of modified paren- 

 chyma cells. We have thus far studied typical members of dif- 

 ferent groups of plants, from which the plant world might seem 

 to be composed of several distinct parts. When we try, however, 

 to find the dividing lines between the groups, they continually 

 evade us, one group seeming to merge into another by such in- 

 sensible degrees that the idea of distinct parts soon fades away, 

 and we are more impressed with the fact that the plant world is 

 essentially a unit. 



The plant world, then, is practically a unit in its structure, in 

 its processes and in its relations. But why , in that case, the wide 

 differences in form, color, odor and habit of plants ? If we accept 

 the theory of special creation, nothing came by chance, each 

 peculiarity of form, each shade of color, each odor means some- 

 thing, nothing depends upon accident the form, color and odor 

 of each particular flower are, all things considered, the best pos- 

 sible, no others would do. Again, if we accept some form of the 

 theory of evolution or development the same thing is true. 

 Every peculiarity which distinguishes one group of plants from 

 others is supposed to be beneficial to that group. Such peculiar- 

 ities are not the result of caprice or chance, but of purpose. 

 (244) 



