The Wonders of Plant Life Under the Microscope |
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algæ animal anther antheridia antherozoids archegonia beautiful bend called cause cell sap cell wall cellular cellulose chemical chlorophyll chlorophyll bodies close color conjugation corn curious Darwin delicate desmids diams diatoms digestive disk Drosera epidermal fermentation ferns fertilization filaments flower fluid frond functions fungi fungus gemmæ germs glands green grow growth hairs honey inflection inner insect insectivorous plants jelly layers of cells leaf leaves living lobes Marchantia mass matter ment microscope mode moisture mosses mycelium Nature orchids organic ovary ovule oxygen peculiar pedicel penetrate petals petiole pistil pitcher plants pollen grains pollen tube pollinia portion possess produced prothallium protococcus protoplasm R. A. PROCTOR reproduction root-hairs roots Sachs Sarracenia secretion seen species spiral sporangia spores sporogonium stamens stem stigma stomata structure substance surface takes place tentacles tiny tion tissue trichomes utricles Utricularia varieties vegetable cell vessels viscid wonderful
Popular passages
Page 27 - I see no reason whatever that justice may not be done to the few fragments of soul and tatters of understanding which they may really possess. I have sometimes perhaps felt a little uneasy at Exeter Change from contrasting the monkeys with the...
Page 27 - I confess I feel myself so much at my ease about the superiority of mankind, — I have such a marked and decided contempt for the understanding of every baboon I have yet seen, — I feel so sure that the blue ape without a tail will never rival us in poetry, painting, and music, — that I see no reason whatever why justice may not be done to the few fragments of soul and tatters of understanding which they may really possess.
Page 203 - ... the flower ; and that the object of the flap and its sugar is also to attract insects, but with a very different result, cannot be doubted. It is hence conceivable that this marvellous plant lures insects to its flowers for one object, and feeds them while it uses them to fertilize itself, and that, this accomplished, some of its benefactors are thereafter lured to its pitchers for the sake of feeding itself...
Page 219 - Even when caused by the absorption of the carbonate or other salt of ammonia, or an infusion of meat, the process seems to be of exactly the same nature. The protoplasmic fluid must, therefore, be in a singularly unstable condition, to be acted on by such slight and varied causes. Physiologists believe that when a nerve is touched, and it transmits an influence to other parts of the nervous system, a molecular change is induced in it, though not visible to us. Therefore it is a very interesting spectacle...
Page 51 - An obstacle in the path," says Prof. W". Smith, "is not avoided, but pushed aside ; or, if it be sufficient to avert the onward course of the frustule, the latter is detained for a time equal to that which it would have occupied in its forward progression, and then retires from the impediment as if it had accomplished its full course.