go THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



irregular ; a zigzsig line, or a spire crossing itself, or 

 a figure of eight being formed. The course during 

 twelve hours when traced on a bell-glass apparently 

 represented about four ellipses. The leaves them- 

 selves likewise move spontaneously, the main petioles 

 curving themselves in accordance with the move- 

 ments of the internodes ; so that when the latter 

 moved to one side, the petioles moved to the same 

 side, then becoming straight, reversed their curvature. 

 The petioles, however, do not move over a wide 

 space, as could be seen when a shoot was securely 

 tied to a stick. The leaf in this case followed an 

 irregular course, like that made by the internodes." 



The stem is climbing (by aid of the petioles), erect 

 or branched, delicate, pale green or glaucous, or 

 bluish-green, is devoid of hairs, and the plant forms 

 a dense tuft. The leaves are much divided, the 

 segments flat, much divided, three-lobed, the lobes 

 variable, linear to lance-shaped or oblong. The 

 foliage is very distinct in character. 



The flowers are rose colour, numerous, in a long 

 raceme, which lengthens after flowering is over. 

 The flower-stalk is longer than the bracts. The two 

 sepals are lance-shaped to ovate, not so long or so 

 broad as the corolla tube, with jagged edges, small 

 and pink. There are four petals, the lower one 

 spoon-shaped. The posterior one is slightly enlarged 

 at the base into a spur, but the anterior one is not. 

 They are really lateral, the flower being twisted in 

 position a quarter of a circle. The inner petals are 



