纪录片《我们的地球》 第149期 富饶丛林(04)（在线收听）

There's no time to waste.

没有时间去浪费。

A seed that may have fallen only a few days ago now bursts through the leaf litter.

几天前才落下的种子突然破土而出。

With so many competitors, getting a good start is critical.

在这么多的竞争者面前，有一个好的开始非常重要。

But each plant has its own particular strategy for making the most of this rare opportunity.

在这个难得的机会面前，每种植物都有自己非常独特的生长方式。

The seeds of hardwoods are quick to germinate.

阔叶木发芽速度虽然不慢。

But like the fabled tortoise, their strategy is to be slow and steady.

不过它们的策略还是稳扎稳打。

Vines and other climbers put all their energy into rapid vertical growth rather than girth,

蔓生植物和攀爬植物一样，把全部的力量用于垂直生长，而不是横向生长，

though they'll need to be well-supported.

尽管需要很好的对象支撑其生长。

The climber's strategy looks chaotic but there's method in their madness.

对这些蔓生植物来说，疯长是它们唯一的思想。

Their growing tips circle like lassoes searching out anchors for their spindly stems.

它们的生长锥如套索般圆形移动，来寻找可以攀援的物体。

They put coils in their tendrils, so that if their support moves, they will stretch and not snap.

因此向支撑的树移动时，它们会伸展而不会断裂。