Chap. IV. CUCURBITACE.E. 127 



CHAPTEK IV. 



Tendril-Bearers (continued). 



CuCurbitace^: Homologous nature jf the tendrils Echinocystis lobata, 

 remarkable movements of the tendrils to avoid seizing the terminal 

 shoot Tendrils not excited by contact with another tendril or by 

 drops of water Undulatory movement of the extremity of the tendril 

 Hanburya, adherent discs ViTAC-as Gradation between tho 

 flower- peduncles and tendrils of the vine Tendrils of the Virginian 

 Creeper turn from the light, and, after contact, develop adhesive 

 discs Sapindace^e Passifloraceje Passiflora gracilis Rapid 

 revolving movement and sensitiveness of the tendrils Not sensitive 

 to the contact of other tendrils or of drops of water Spiral con- 

 traction of tendrils Summary on the nature and action of 

 tendrils. 



CucurbitacezE. The tendrils in this family have 

 been ranked by competent judges as modified leaves, 

 stipules, or branches ; or as partly a leaf and partly 

 a branch. De Candolle believes that the tendrils 

 differ in their homological nature in two of the tribes.* 

 From facts recently adduced, Mr. Berkeley thinks 

 that Payer's view is the most probable, namely, that 

 the tendril is "a separate portion of the leaf itself;" 

 but much may be said in favour of the belief that it 

 is a modified flower-peduncle.t 



* I am indebted to Prof. Oliver f ' Gardeners' Chronicle,' 1864, 



for information on this head. In p. 721. From the affinity of the 



the Bulletin de la Societe Bota- Cucurbitacese to the Passifloracese, 



nique de France, 1857, there are it might be argued that the 



numerous discussions on the tendrils of the former are modified 



nature of the tendrils in this flower-peduncles, as is certainly 



family. the case with those of Passion- 



