Links With the Past in the Plant World
by A. C. Seward (1863–1941)
- Free to read
- 2 hours to read
- 9 chapters
- Reading level: 10th to 12th grade
"Links With the Past in the Plant World" by A. C. Seward is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The book addresses the antiquity of existing plant species and explores the connections between modern flora and their prehistoric ancestors, utilizing geological evidence to illustrate these relationships. It aims to engage readers already interested in botany and to encourage further study of the history of plants. The opening of the book sets the stage for an exploration of plant longevity and the ancient lineage of various species. A.C. Seward begins by reflecting on the lifespan of trees and contrasting it with human history, establishing a theme of continuity between the past and present within the plant kingdom. He illustrates the deep connections between modern trees and their historical counterparts, discussing specific examples of notable ancient trees and their longevity, while emphasizing the remarkable capacity of certain plants to endure through geological timeframes. Overall, the beginning invites readers to contemplate the intricate links between living plants and their deep-rooted histories, foreshadowing a detailed examination of plant evolution throughout the work.
- Plants · Great Britain
- Paleobotany · Great Britain
Read the opening
Chapter I
INTRODUCTORY: THE LONGEVITY OF TREES, ETC.
'Believe me who have tried. Thou wilt find something more in woods than in books. Trees and rocks will teach what thou canst not hear from a master.' St Bernard.
The recent publication in the daily press of instances of human longevity under the heading 'Links with the Past' prompted a comparison between the length of time represented by the duration of a tree and the lifetime of a human being. The comparison of single lives suggested the further step of contrasting the antiquity of the oldest family-histories with the remoteness of the period to which it is possible to trace the ancestry of existing members of the plant kingdom.
My primary object in these pages is not to deal with familiar cases of longevity in trees, but to consider in the first place some of the problems connected with the origin of the present British flora, and then to describe a few examples of different types of plants whose ancestors flourished during periods of the earth's history long ages before the advent of the human race.
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About this edition
This free edition of Links With the Past in the Plant World by A. C. Seward comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #62521, released 2020-06-29. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Science - Biology, Science - Earth/Agricultural/Farming, Archaeology & Anthropology.
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