THE BEGINNINGS OF PLANT LIFE 5 



ordinary student scarcely knows where to locate 

 them. 



In recent years, however, a better nnderstand- 

 ino- has been arrived at with ret^'ard to the more 







i K> 



"^a 



Fig. 2. Desmids [Closteyiujn lunula), oi- unicellular 

 plants, found in standing waters, .\ctual length 

 about .\. of an inch 



familiar forms, since a large number of these 

 gaily swimming organisms have been shown con- 

 clusively to belong to the Vegetable Kingdom. 



Fig. 2 shows a number of the singular uni- 

 cellular plants which are called "desmids." 

 These are minute fresh-water algce, of a beau- 

 tiful green colour and numerous diverse forms. 



