Climbing Plants and Plant Migrations 95 



its flora ? Dr. Bolus, in his " Sketch of South African Flora," 

 mentions as one of its peculiarities " its power to resist the 

 aggression of foreign invaders." The bulbous plants offer a 

 most determined resistance to other plants. Even South 

 African plants seldom spread when removed from their 

 restricted locality. A Mimosa {Acacia horrida) \vas planted 

 in Wellington as a thank-offering for a difficult journey suc- 



FiG. 97.— The leaf tips of Fla-gcllaria serve 

 as a means of support. 



Fig. 98. — A Mimosa tree in Wellington. Out 

 of its natural habitat it thrives, but does not 

 spread as does its relative the " Port Jackson " 

 from Australia. (Photograph by Mrs. Aiken.) 



cessfully completed before the railway extended to Worcester, 

 more than thirty years ago. Beautifully green in winter, in 

 summer it is a fragrant mass of golden flowers. Fruit and 

 seeds are produced in abundance, but still it stands the only 

 Mimosa tree in the vicinity. However, it is much the same 

 with plants as with people who come to our shores. If 

 they bring something to the country which it needs, if they 

 adapt themselves to the conditions as they are, and make 



