CHAPTER XVI 
SUNSHINE, RAIN, AND WIND 
Ir is a fact that all flowering plants have somehow 
suited themselves to some particular place in the world, 
but it is very difficult to understand how they managed 
to do this. The situations in which certain particular 
species have established themselves are very strange. 
One special alga lives only in the hollow hairs on the 
toes of a rare South American sloth. 
The common darnel is generally affected by an inter- 
esting fungus which develops in the seed. About 85 
to 98 per cent. of the plants are so affected. When the 
seed is sown ahd germinates, the fungus grows as the 
seedling develops and again appears in the seed. It 
does not injure the grass, which is even said to be more 
vigorous when it contains the fungus.! 
Dr. Borchardt found the seeds of this weed in certain 
graves at Abusir in Egypt, belonging to the time of 
King Newozee, that is, to 2400 B.c. So that this fungus 
has continued to affect Lolium temulentum for at least 
4300 years. 
In one particular cavern which is dark and moist 
(the Hermannshohle at Riibeland), a special variety of 
Bryum capillare is to be found which, so far as is known, 
does not exist anywhereelse.” There are lichens which 
have trained themselves to living only on plaster or on 
the resin of some particular kind of pine-tree. One 
species has never been found except on burnt earth. 
Amongst flowering plants there are such forms 
as Wulfenia carinthiaca, which is only known from one 
particular rocky ledge (Gartnerskugel) in Carinthia. 
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