20 RHUS RADICANS. 
it harmless as it is handsome. As its name 
implies, this vine ascends upon tall objects in its 
neighbourhood by means of strong lateral rooting 
fibres, which project in great numbers from its 
sides, and attach themselves to the bark of trees 
and the surface of stones. The extreme branches 
of these fibres appear very strong in proportion 
to their fineness, and insinuate themselves into 
the minutest pores and crevices. The adhesion 
of the vine to the bark of trees is frequently so 
strong, that it cannot be torn off without breaking, 
and I have repeatedly seen large stems of the 
Rhus completely buried in the trunks of old 
trees, the bark having grown over and enveloped 
them. The fibres are analogous in their struc- 
ture to fine roots, and consist of a regular wood 
and bark. They are sometimes thrown out in 
such numbers on all sides, as to give the vine a 
shaggy appearance and conceal its bark. © In 
general, however, they tend to the shady side, 
and are attracted toward opaque objects, furnish- 
ing an exemplification of Mr. Knight’s beautiful 
explanation of motion in tendrils, which, by their 
propensity to avoid the light and approach the 
shade, are directed into contact with bodies 
eapable of yielding them support. 
