92 TENDRIL-BEARERS. Chap. III. 



The species last described, ascended a vertical stick 

 by twining spirally and by seizing it alternately with 

 its opposite tendrils, like a sailor pulling himself np 

 a rope, hand over hand ; the present species pulls itself 

 up, like a sailor seizing with both hands together a 

 rope above his head. 



The tendrils are similar in structure to those of the 

 last species. They continue growing for some time, 

 even after they have clasped an object. When fully 

 grown, though borne by a young plant, they are 9 inches 

 in length. The three divergent toes are shorter re- 

 latively to the tarsus than in the former species ; they 

 are blunt at their tips and but slightly hooked ; they 

 are not quite equal in length, the middle one being 

 rather longer than the others. Their outer surfaces 

 are highly sensitive ; for when lightly rubbed with 

 a twig, they became perceptibly curved in 4 m. and 

 greatly curved in 7 m. In 7 hrs. they became straight 

 again and were ready to re-act. The tarsus, for the 

 space of one inch close to the toes, is sensitive, but 

 in a rather less degree than the toes ; for the latter, 

 after a slight rubbing, became curved in about half the 

 time. Even the middle part of the tarsus is sensitive 

 to prolonged contact, as soon as the tendril has arrived 

 at maturity. After it has grown old, the sensitiveness 

 is confined to the toes, and these are only able to curl 

 very slowly round a stick. A tendril is perfectly ready 

 to act, as soon as the three toes have diverged, and 

 at this period their outer surfaces first become irritable. 

 The irritability spreads but little from one part when 



