Flowers and Their Friends

How flowers and insects came to need each other, explained to children by a teacher who refused to talk down — “it would be very stupid indeed to try to read a book written in Arabic,” she begins, so look up every word you don't know.

Home › Glossar Y › Glossar Y: Proteus

Glossar Y: Proteus

Pertaining to Proteus; readily assuming different Proteus, n. In classical mythology, a sea god who had the power of assuming different shapes. He could become a serpent or a cloud or a bull or anything he chose to become.

Protoplasm, n. From two words meaning "first" and "form." A substance resembling the white of an egg in appearance, composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorus. It is the foundation of all living forms.

Protoplasmic, a. Consisting of protoplasm.

Q.

Quartus, n. L. quartus, fourth; the name given in this book to a suppositional plant.

Read next

← Glossar Y: PollenGlossar Y: Glossary →