纪录片《南太平洋》 第54期 四海为家（22）

There is one plant castaway that needs no help in finding new land

有一种漂流植物在寻找新陆地时无需帮助

a plant that has probably done more to change the fortunes of island life than any other,

这种植物或许比其它植物更能改变岛屿生物的命运

and one of the greatest long-distance travellers of all time.

它在任何时候都是最伟大的长途旅行家

The humble¹ coconut². Its seed is a compact survival capsule.

它就是椰果。椰果种子犹如一个坚实的救生舱

Buoyant and filled with food for germination³,

凭借浮力和胚芽的养分

it can survive for up to two months at sea...

它能在海水中至少生存2个月

...long enough to float from one remote island to the next.

足够从一个偏远岛漂流到下一个小岛

On arrival, it lays down roots into bare sand

到达陆地后，它将根部扎进裸露的沙土中

and taps into the reservoirs of underground freshwater.

利用地下储存的淡水生存

Without coconuts⁴, most of the tropical islands in the South Pacific

没有椰树，人类和动物就无法

would have remained uninhabitable for both animals and people.

在南太平洋的诸多岛屿定居

1 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

2 coconut   

n.椰子

参考例句：

• The husk of this coconut is particularly strong.椰子的外壳很明显非常坚固。
• The falling coconut gave him a terrific bang on the head.那只掉下的椰子砰地击中他的脑袋。

3 germination   

n.萌芽，发生；萌发；生芽；催芽

参考例句：

• At the onset of germination, the hypocotyl elongates rapidly by cell enlargement. 萌发开始时，下胚轴依靠细胞增大而迅速伸长。 来自辞典例句
• Excessive moisture is unfavourable for soybean germination. 水分过多对于大豆萌发是不利的。 来自辞典例句

4 coconuts   

n.椰子( coconut的名词复数 )；椰肉，椰果

参考例句：

• We found a bountiful supply of coconuts on the island. 我们发现岛上有充足的椰子供应。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Coconuts provide "meat", drink, oil, soap and fiber for fishing line. 椰子提供“肉类”，饮料、油脂、肥皂和做钓（鱼）丝的纤维。 来自百科语句