TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been placed at the end of the book. Chapter headings have been made consistent, with the title on a single line and the author on the following line. Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. Volume I of this set of four volumes can be found in Project Gutenberg at: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/74571 Volume II can be found in Project Gutenberg at: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77792 [Illustration: Mushrooms and Other Fungi 1, Boletus Satanus; 2, Agaricus Muscarius; 3, Lycoperdon; 4, Morchella Esculenta; 5, Belvella; 6, Agaricus Campestris; 7, Phallus; 8, Agaricus Phalloides; 9, Boletus Edulis; 10, Rhizopogon (_Truffle_)] THE STORY OF THE UNIVERSE _Told by Great Scientists and Popular Authors_ COLLECTED AND EDITED _By_ ESTHER SINGLETON Author of “Turrets, Towers and Temples,” “Wonders of Nature,” “The World’s Great Events,” “Famous Paintings,” Translator of Lavignac’s “Music Dramas of Richard Wagner” _FULLY ILLUSTRATED_ VOLUME III THE EARTH’S GARMENT: FLORA P. F. COLLIER AND SON NEW YORK COPYRIGHT 1905 BY P. F. COLLIER & SON ILLUSTRATIONS Mushrooms and Fungi _Frontispiece_ Familiar Trees _Opposite p._ 901 Herbs, Useful and Medicinal ” 949 Flowers, Curious and Beautiful ” 997 Cacti, Rare Flowers, and Fuci ” 1045 Cereals and Food Plants ” 1093 Bacteria and Vegetable Germs ” 1141 Nuts and Fruits ” 1213 Lichens ” 1261 CONTENTS THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. David Robertson 859 FLORA OF THE EARLY MESOZOIC. Sir J. William Dawson 871 EXISTING LIFE-FORMS OF PLANTS. Edward Clodd 887 PLANT GEOGRAPHY. Louis Figuier 898 ZONES OF VEGETATION. M. J. Schleiden 930 PHYSIOGNOMY OF PLANTS. Alexander von Humboldt 946 THE GENESIS OF FLOWERS. Alexander S. Wilson 957 LIFE HISTORY OF PLANTS. E. W. Prevost 968