EPIPHYTES OR AIR-PI.ANTS. 



87 



Moreovei*, this tendency to shoot in the air is shown even in the 

 embryo, which begins to germinate while the fruit is yet attached to 

 the parent brancli, often elongating its radicle to the length of a foot 

 or more before the fruit falls to the ground. 



149. Epiphytes, or Air-Plants, exhibit a further peculiarity. Their 

 roots not only strike in the open air, but throughout their life have 

 no connection with the soil. These generally grow upon the trunks 

 and branches of trees ; their roots merely adhering to the bark to 

 fix the plant in its position, or else hanging loose in the air, from 

 which such j^lants draw all their nourishment. Of this kind are a 

 large portion of the gorgeous Orchidaceous plants of very warm and 

 humid climes, which are so much prized in hot-houses, and which, 

 in their flowers as well as their general aspect, exhibit such fantastic 

 and infinitely vai'ied forms. Some of the flowers resemble butter- 



flies, or strange insects, in shape as Avell as in gaudy coloring ; 

 such, for example, as the Oncidium Papilio (Fig. 143). To another 



FIG. 143. Oncidium Papilin, and, 144, Comparettia rosea; two epiphjtes of the Orchis 

 family ; showing the mode in which these Air-plants grow. 



