44 



DICOTYLEDONS 



advantages from these movements. They often cover large tracts 

 of land, and grazing animals may be often attracted towards 

 them by their bright green foliage. But what happens? The 

 very first plants the animal approaches droop their tempting 

 leaves, sensitive even to the vibration of the ground caused by 

 the invader; and should it step in amongst them, the tempting 

 and juicy foliage recedes before it, for one plant conveys the 

 shock to its neighbours by the touch of its own leaves as they 

 drop. Thus, what was a moment before a mass of tempting 



Fig. 45. — An "umbrella tree": Poinciana rerjin. 



green leaves l)ecomes almost instantly in appearance very scrubby 

 fare for the animal, whose appetite expected much better refresh- 

 ment. The stems are protected with strong and sharp spines. 

 And now, wlien they have turned down tlieir leaves out of harm's 

 way, they present to tlieir enemy f(U' its tirst nibble nothing but 

 prickly stems, so that should the intruder not be awed by their 

 uncanny movements, but proceed with its intention, its tirst 

 mouthful would scarcely be agreeable after its richer antici- 

 pations." 



