BBC | 《南太平洋》- 漂流者 23

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

有一种植物漂流者能独立寻找新的陆地

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

这种植物或许为改变岛屿生物的运势做出了最大的贡献

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

它还是史上最伟大的长途旅行家之一

The humble coconut

不起眼的椰子

Its seed is a compact survival capsule

椰子的种子如同一个坚实的救生舱

Buoyant and filled with food for germination,

有浮力且装满了供发芽的食物

it can survive for up to two months at sea,

它能在海里存活长达两个月的时间

long enough to float from one remote island to the next

使其足以从一个偏远岛屿漂流至下一个岛屿

On arrival,

一旦登陆

it lays down roots into bare sand and taps into the reservoirs of underground freshwater

它就会将根部扎进光秃秃的沙地中吸取地下的淡水

Without coconuts,

没有椰子

most of the tropical islands in the South Pacific would have remained uninhabitable for both animals and people

南太平洋的大部分热带岛屿都不会适合动物和人类定居

There is one set of islands, however, that is so remote that even the coconut couldn't reach it

然而，有一群岛屿因为太为偏远以致于椰子都无法抵达

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