938 



THE NATURE BOOK 



case with the secondary roots. These 

 spread out laterally, and, indeed, can be 

 induced to develop in an entirely opposite 

 direction to that taken by the initial root. 

 Thus, even if the radicle of the plant is 

 injured in such a way that it cannot 

 develop, the branch roots speedily come to 

 the rescue. The seedling has indeed been 

 endowed by Nature with extraordinary 

 energy, and frail a thing as the little plant 

 appears to be, it is not easily killed. Even 

 if the plumule happens to be broken off 

 altogether, this is speedily replaced by a 

 fresh shoot, and the plant emerges on the 

 scene but little the worse for the accident. 

 Throughout its life history the average 

 plant is chained to one spot. It flowers, 

 perhaps produces its seeds, without 

 difficulty, and yet there still remains a 

 pr(,)blem which is by no means easy of 

 solution. In certain circumstances the 

 parent plant may be the greatest enemy 

 of its own kind. The very fact of its 



continued existence after fruiting may 

 form a serious menace to the well-being 

 of its offspring. The seeds which fall 

 on to the ground surrounding a perennial 

 come up to find a well-established plant 

 already in possession of the field — when 

 their chance of arriving at maturity is 

 exceedingly remote. There is no room 

 for apprehension of this kind on behalf 

 of aninual plants, and it is curious that, 

 generally speaking, the provisions for 

 wide seed distribution of these species are 

 not so pronounced as in the case of 

 perennials. It is a very different matter 

 with plants which live for more than a 

 year, and many ingenious devices have 

 been brought into being to ensure the 

 scattering of the offspring over a wide area. 

 Some of the most beautiful arrange- 

 ments to secure the passage of the seed 

 are evidenced in those which are designed 

 to be carried hither and thither by the 

 wind. A vast number of seeds produced 



THE RADICLE WILL TWIST IN A STRANGE MANNER WHEN THE SEED IS 

 TURNED DURING GROWTH. 



