Part I. _Physiology._ This deals with the life processes of plants,
as absorption, transpiration, conduction, photosynthesis, nutrition,
assimilation, digestion, respiration, growth, and irritability. Since
protoplasm is fundamental to all the life work of the plant, this
subject is dealt with first, and the student is led through the study
of, and experimentation with, the simpler as well as some of the higher
plants, to a general understanding of protoplasm and the special way in
which it enables the plant to carry on its work and to adjust itself to
the conditions of its existence. This study also serves the purpose of
familiarizing the pupil with some of the lower and unfamiliar plants.
Some teachers will prefer to begin the study with general morphology
and classification, thus studying first the representatives of the
great groups of plants, and others will prefer to dwell first on the
ecological aspects of vegetation. This can be done in the use of this
book by beginning with Part II or with Part III.
But the author believes that morphology can best be comprehended after
a general study of life processes and functions of the different parts
of plants, including in this study some of the lower forms of plant
life where some of these processes can more readily be observed. The
pupil is then prepared for a more intelligent consideration of general
and comparative morphology and relationships. Even more important is
a first study of physiology before taking up the subject of ecology.
The great value to be derived from a study of plants in their relation
to environment lies in the ability to interpret the different states,
conditions, behavior, and associations of the plant, and for this
physiology is indispensable. It is true that a considerable measure
of success can be obtained by a good teacher in beginning with either
subject, but the writer believes that measure of success would be
greater if the subjects were taken up in the order presented here.
Part II. _Morphology and life history of representative plants._ This
includes a rather careful study of representative examples among the
algæ, fungi, liverworts, mosses, ferns and their allies, gymnosperms
and angiosperms, with especial emphasis on the form of plant parts,
and a comparison of them in the different groups, with a comparative
study of development, reproduction, and fertilization, rounding out
the work with a study of life histories and noting progression and
retrogression of certain organs and phases in proceeding from the
lower to the higher plants. Thus, in the algæ a first critical study
is made of four examples which illustrate in a marked way progressive
stages of the plant body, sexual organs, and reproduction. Additional
examples are then studied for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of
variations from these types and to give a broader basis for the brief
consideration of general relationships and classification.
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