Relation of Plants to Environment 
(or Plant Ecology) 
I. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PLANT. 
Earliest plants simple in form and structure. 
1. Earliest found among lower algae and fungi. 
Naked protoplasm, red snow plant, Pleurococcus, 
bacteria. 
Pandorina, Spirogyra, Oedogonium. 
2. Adjustment to environment not difficult. 
1. Surrounded by food solutions easily absorbed. 
2. No problem of food transportation. 
3.- The larger the organism the greater the prob- 
. Se lems: 
4. Soon differentiation in work of protoplasts— 
Absorption. 
Conduction. 
Light relation. 
Reproduction. 
5. Gain in splitting body into parts 
Ist, Larger surface exposed to environ- 
ment. 
and, Economy in building material. 
6. Two problems— 
Ist, Ready display of larger surface for ac- 
quiring food and disposition of 
waste. 
and, Protection of plant from injuries or 
austere environment. , 
Variety of conditions developed variety of forms. 
Plants no consciousness or choice in general sense. 
“Inherent” quality. 
“Environment” 
“Sexual selection’’, etc. 
Examples, cactus, yucca, cucurbits, oak. 
Process of organization and change of form a slow one. 
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