Growth
The genotype of a plant affects its growth. For example, selected varieties of wheat grow rapidly, maturing within 110 days, whereas others, in the same environmental conditions, grow more slowly and mature within 155 days.
Growth is also determined by environmental factors, such as temperature, available water, available light, and available nutrients in the soil. Any change in the availability of these external conditions will be reflected in the plants growth.
Biotic factors are also capable of affecting plant growth. Plants compete with other plants for space, water, light and nutrients. Plants can be so crowded that no single individual produces normal growth, causing etiolation and chlorosis. Optimal plant growth can be hampered by grazing animals, suboptimal soil composition, lack of mycorrhizal fungi, and attacks by insects or plant diseases, including those caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_growth - 14.12.2011
Growth
Briefly before the water masses at the Niagara Falls plunge into depth, a little rock rises out of the stream current …
… and there several plants are growing!
Though these plants are rather unimpressive and decent, they have a certain brilliance: with its growth at this place they are evidence of the power acting in creation.
