152 SAGACITY AND MORALITY OF PLANTS. 



a greenish -yellow colour, comparatively small and 

 inconspicuous, are seated on the angles of the 

 branches. The whole plant is full of an excess- 

 ively acrid and caustic milk, which gushes out in 

 great quantities whenever an incision is made." 



One of the most remarkable features about the 

 arborescent Cape flora is the degree with which it is 

 defended by thorns, etc. When we remember the 

 extraordinary numbers of wild herbivorous animals 

 which formerly swarmed in this part of the world, 

 and how in seasons of drought they would be ready 

 to eat anything, we see the use to the plants of such 

 defences. An extremely common shrub is Clijfortia 

 ruscifolia, whose prickle-pointed leaves are as sharp 

 as needles, and break off at the points, so as to 

 remain sticking in the flesh. 



The best illustration of the conversion of leaves 

 into protective spines in this country is afforded by 

 the Gorse or Furze {Ulex eiiropcBiis), abounding on 

 all our commons, in spite of nibbling rabbits and 

 crowding sheep. The early development of the 

 leaves of the Gorse is ternate — that is, they are 

 composed of three leaflets, like other leguminose 

 plants ; and the process of the gradual stiffening 

 of the subsequently -formed leaves into protective 

 spines can easily be studied by any one who will take 

 the trouble to sow a few Gorse seeds and watch 

 their development. No better proof could be de- 

 sired of the gradual transformation of a leguminose 



