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development of this organ, while still attached to the tree, which 

 is peculiar. At the small end of these peculiar bodies is the 

 plumule, where are concealed the first leaves of the plant, while 

 the other end of the hypocotyl is much enlarged. 



Now what happens when the young plant has reached that 

 stage in its development when it separates from the parent tree ? 

 The mangrove, as has been said, grows along the shore, and the 

 pendant hypocotyl, when it breaks from the tree, falls, as would 



Fig. 2. A well developed colony extending itself into the water. 



a plummet, the big end down. If the water under the tree be 

 shallow, and even eighteen inches would not thwart its object, 

 these bodies penetrate the mud in an upright position and soon 

 take root, sending forth their leaves and in a short time develop- 

 ing into vigorous plants. If, on the contraiy, the water be too 

 deep, they rise to the surface after their plunge and float about, 

 for they are lighter than the water, at the capricious whim of 

 tides and winds. In time some of them find a resting place on 



