80 LEAF-CLIMBERS. Chap. H. 



the stein revolve. Hence this plant acquires its 

 climbing powers later in life than does the Gloriosa 

 lily. According to Mohl (p. 41), Uvularia (Melan- 

 thaceae) also climbs like Gloriosa. 



These three last-named genera are Monocotyledons ; 

 but there is one Dicotyledon, namely Nepenthes, which 

 is ranked by Mohl (p. 41) amongst tendril-bearers; 

 and I hear from Dr. Hooker that most of the species 

 climb well at Kew. This is effected by the stalk or 

 midrib between the leaf and the pitcher coiling round 

 any support. The twisted part becomes thicker ; but 

 I observed in Mr. Veitch's hothouse that the stalk 

 often takes a turn when not in contact with any 

 object, and that this twisted part is likewise thickened. 

 Two vigorous young plants of N. Isevis and N. distilla- 

 toria, in my hothouse, whilst less than a foot in 

 height, showed no sensitiveness in their leaves, and 

 had no power of climbing. But when JV. leevis had 

 grown to a height of 16 inches, there were signs of 

 these powers. The young leaves when first formed 

 stand upright, but soon become inclined ; at this 

 period they terminate in a stalk or filament, with the 

 pitcher at the extremity hardly at all developed. 

 The leaves now exhibited slight spontaneous move- 

 ments ; and when the terminal filaments came into 

 contact with a stick, they slowly bent round and 

 firmly seized it. But owing to the subsequent 

 growth of the leaf, this filament became after a time 

 quite slack, though still remaining firmly coiled 

 round the stick. Hence it would appear that the 



