188 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE chap. 



minor differences according to the situation 

 in which they grow. 



Since, then, there is so much complex 

 structure in a single leaf, what must it be in a 

 whole plant ? There is a giant seaweed (Mac- 

 rocystis), which has been known to reach a 

 length of 1000 feet, as also do some of the 

 lianas of tropical forests. These, however, 

 attain no gi-eat bulk, and the most gigantic 

 specimens of the vegetable kingdom yet 

 known are the Wellingtonia (Sequoia) gigan- 

 tea, which grows to a height of 450 feet, and 

 the Blue Gum (Eucalyptus) even to 480. 



One is apt to look on animal structure as 

 more delicate, and of a higher order, than 

 that of plants. And so no doubt it is. Yet 

 an animal, even man himself, will recover 

 from a wound or an operation more rapidly 

 and more perfectly than a tree.^ 



Trees again derive a special interest from 

 the venerable age they attain. In some cases, 

 no doubt, the age is more or less mythical, as, 

 for instance, the Olive of Minerva at Athens, 

 the Oaks mentioned by Pliny, "which were 



1 Sir J. Paget, On the Pathology of Plants. 



