PROTECTION 27 
If we look through a lens at the leaf of a Briar Rose 
we shall see that it possesses a number of hairs each 
of which has a round knob at the end, known as a 
Hair ; : z 
_ Leaf ; ; ze 

Fic. 7.— Glan- Fic. 8.—Glandular hair of the leaf of the 
dular hair of Groundsel. x 60. 
oe a id oe G =the gland. 
Sc 15: 
gland because it produces a special secretion, while 
those of the Common Groundsel are like a string of 
beads, the head or terminal cell being the gland. 
Such glandular hairs occur upon a great number of 
plants, and whatever additional uses they may have 
there is no doubt that they often save their possessors 
from being eaten. 
But there are other and much more obvious 
defensive weapons to be found, such as the prickles 
of the Rose, the rough harsh hairs of 
the Borage and Viper’s Bugloss, the 
spines of the Hawthorn and the Gorse, 
and the stings of the Nettle. 
These are a few of such weapons 
of defence which have only to be 
looked for in order to be found by 
any one who cares to take the trouble. ee ee oe of 
The brown bulbous base of the hairs eae eee 
upon the Viper’s Bugloss can be seen 
quite plainly with the naked eye, and if one handles 
the plant carelessly one’s smarting hands keep one 
aware of the fact for at least an hour or two afterwards, 

