PLANTS THAT HIDE FROM ANIMALS. 



179 



the surface or by extending above it, not only from numerous animals, 

 but they have no competition with others which can only grow on dry 

 or moist soil. 



Aquatics and marine plants and algae are also protected from ex- 

 tremes of cold and heat. During the winter of a cold or temperate 

 climate the rootstocks and 

 buds severed from the tips or 

 branches, and even the entire 

 plant of some species, remain 

 safe and dormant in the mud 

 at the bottom, ready on the 

 approach of mild weather to 

 begin growing again. 



Some are amphibious, able 

 to thrive when the land is 

 flooded or when the floods have 

 subsided. Plants with such 

 habits have little competition. 



By climbing Trees and 

 Bushes Many Vines get be- 

 yond the Reach of Cattle. — 

 A considerable number of 

 plants practise economy by 

 growing slender stems instead 

 of producing large tree-trunks 

 for self-support. 



rr Fig. 1. A Mght Blooming Cereus, Cereus 



Great numbers of climbing GreggU, showing the Large Succulent Roots 



plants or vines are favored ^ZrSnZf * Storehouse for Water 



above some others in their 



ability to reach the light and thrive, even though their stems are 



very weak and slender. This habit brings most of the leaves and 



flowers of many of them beyond the reach of cattle and other 



herbivores. 



Plant Traps in the Water catch Fish and Worms to eat. — A few 

 plants not only defend themselves, but are aggressive fighters because 

 they put to good use the animals they capture. 



The bladderwort is a water plant and catches much of its food. 

 Underneath the surface of the water in which the plant floats are a 

 number of lax, leafy branches spread out in all directions and at- 

 tached to these are large numbers of little flattened sacks or bladders, 

 sometimes one sixth of an inch long. The small end of each little 

 bladder is surrounded by a cluster of bristles forming a sort of hollow 

 funnel leading into the mouth below, and this is covered inside by a 

 perfect little trap door, which fits closely, but opens with the least 



