CONTENTS xix 



CHAPTER VIII 



THE LITTORAL PLANTS AND THE CURRENTS OF THE PACIFIC 



The working value of the currents as plant-dispersers. — The relation between 

 the currents and the distribution of shore-plants. — The clue afforded by 

 the American plants. — Two regions of tropical shore-plants, the American 

 and the Asiatic. — America, the home of the cosmopolitan tropical shore- 

 plants that are dispersed by the currents. — Hawaii and the currents. — 

 Summary . . . . Pages 6i — 75 



CHAPTER IX 



THE GERMINATION OF FLOATING SEEDS 



Germination in the floating seed-drift of tropical estuaries. — A strain of vivipary. 

 — Abortive germination of seeds in warm seas. — A barrier to plant dis- 

 persal. — The borderland of vivipary. — Summary Pages 76 — 87 



CHAPTER X 



THE RELATION OF THE BUOYANCY OF SEEDS AND SEEDVESSELS TO THE 

 DENSITY OF SEA-WATER 



The general principles concerned. — The subject assumes a statistical character. 

 — Seeds and seedvessels are as a rule either much heavier than sea-water 

 or much lighter than fresh water. — The present littoral plants with buoyant 

 seeds or seedvessels could be equally well dispersed by currents in oceans 

 of fresh water. — Seed-buoyancy has no relation either in the present or in 

 the past to the density of the sea. — Though an accidental attribute, the 

 specific weight of seeds has had a profound influence on plant-distribution. 

 — Summary . . . . . . Pages 88 — 98 



CHAPTER XI 



ADAPTATION AND MEANS OF DISPERSAL 



Nature has never concerned herself directly with providing means of dispersal. — 

 Fleshy fruits not made to be eaten. — Nor " sticky " seeds to adhere to 

 plumage. — Nor prickly fruits to entangle themselves in fur and feathers. — 

 The dispersal of seeds a blind result of the struggle between the intruding 

 Evolutionary power and the controlling influence of Adaptation. 



Pages 99—103 

 b 2 



