The Poetry of Science; or, Studies of the Physical Phenomena of Nature
CHAPTER XIV.
PHENOMENA OF VEGETABLE LIFE.
Psychology of Flowers--Progress of Matter towards Organization--Vital Force--Spontaneous Generation--The Vegetable Cell--Simplest Development of Organization--The Crystal and the Cell--Primitive Germ--Progress of Vegetation--Influence of Light--Morphology--Germination--Production of Woody Fibre--Leaves--Chlorophylle--Decomposition of Carbonic Acid--Influence of Light, Heat, and Actinism on the Phenomena of Vegetable Life--Flowers and Fruits--Etiolation--Changes in the Sun’s Rays with the Seasons--Distribution of Plants--Electrical and Combined Physical Powers 357