24 THE STORY OF THE PLANTS. 



simplest known form of what we call reproduc- 

 tion. Of course, the two halves into which the 

 plant thus divides itself are exactly like one 

 another ; and that gives us the basis for what 

 i we call HEREDITY that is to say, the general 

 similarity between parent and offspring. This 

 similarity depends upon the fact that the two 

 were once ono, and when they split or divide 

 each part continues to possess all the qualities 

 of the original mass of which it once formed a 

 portion. 



You will observe that I here use the words, 

 parent and offspring. I do so, partly from 

 custom, and partly to show where this reasoning 

 leads us. But in reality, in such very simple 

 plants, neither part of the divided whole can 

 claim to be either parent or child ; they are 

 equal and similar. In higher plants, however 

 (as in higher animals), we find that the main 

 portion of the plant continues to live and grow, 

 and sends off smaller portions, known as spores 

 or seeds, to reproduce its species. Here, we 

 may fairly speak of the larger plant as the 

 parent, and of the smaller ones which it de- 

 taches from itself as its children or offspring. 



The truth is, every gradation exists in nature 

 between these two extreme cases. The different 

 types glide imperceptibly into one another. 

 There is no one point at which we can definitely 

 say, "Here reproduction by splitting or division 

 ceases, and reproduction by eggs, or by spores 

 or seeds begins." 



Again, all the earlier and simpler plants are 

 sexless ; they simply grow till they divide, and 



