Triumphs and wonders of the 19th century, the true mirror of a phenomenal era, a volume of original, entertaining and instructive historic and descriptive writings, showing the many and marvellous achievements which distinguish an hundred years of material, intellectual, social and moral progress .. . plant-life, or, as it is termed, evolution, hasmade rapid advancement as a study during the century. That there lias beenan adaptation to conditions in some respects, as contended by Mr. Darwinand his followers, must be correct. The oak and other species of trees musthave been formed before mistl
Triumphs and wonders of the 19th century, the true mirror of a phenomenal era, a volume of original, entertaining and instructive historic and descriptive writings, showing the many and marvellous achievements which distinguish an hundred years of material, intellectual, social and moral progress .. . plant-life, or, as it is termed, evolution, hasmade rapid advancement as a study during the century. That there lias beenan adaptation to conditions in some respects, as contended by Mr. Darwinand his followers, must be correct. The oak and other species of trees musthave been formed before other parasites could grow on the common Dodder—species of Cuseuta — the seeds germinate in theground like ordinary plants. As soon as they find something to attach them-selves to, they cut loose from mother earth and live wholly on the host. Asa speculation it seems plausible that all parasites have arisen in this , like the mistletoe, having the power, at length, to have their seedsgerminate on the host-plant, have left their terrestrial origin in the pastuncertain. A number of parasites, however, do not seem to live wholly on OUTLINE OP A WHITE DOGWOOD FLOWER (Cornus florida), showing bud-scales DEVELOPED TO BRACTS. 110 TRIUMPHS AND WONDERS OF THE XIX» CENTURY. the plants they attach themselves to. These are usually destitute of greencolor. The Indian pipe, snow plant of the Pacific Coast, and Squaw root ofthe Eastern States are examples ; the former called ghost-flower from its. pale-ness. These plants have little carbonaceous matter in their structure, andhence are regarded as having formed a kind of partnership with fungi. Thisis known now as symbiosis, or living together of dissimilar organisms, eachdependent mutually. The fungus and the flowering plant in these cases arenecessary to the existence of each other. They demand nitrogen instead ofcarbonhydroids. The Squaw root, Conopholis Americana, though attached tothe subterranean portions of
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