TENDRIL-CLIMBERS. 



117 



of the tendril representing a leaflet. All 

 tencli'ils are understood to be transformed 

 leaves, flower-stalks, or other organs. That 

 of the woodbine, Fig. 84, is a transformed 

 flower branch. The tendrils of the pea re- 

 volve in ellipses, making a revolution in 

 about an hour and a half. In this case only 



Fig. 84. 



side tendrils coil when a support is reached, 

 the terminal one remaining straight. 



There are many curious modifications of 

 tendrils. In the Virginia creeper or wild 

 woodbine they end in disks, which hold to 

 trees with great tenacity. These disks are 

 not shown in the figure. In the bignonia of 

 our Southern States they shun the light, 

 after the manner of roots, and find their 

 way into deep crevices for attachment. 



