62 (r/JMI'SES IXIO PI. AST-LIFE 



even no\\- is show in^t;" a further dei^ree of enterprise 

 by growing h bunch of fibrous roots at the end of 

 one of its stems. 1 imagine it intends to plant 

 itself into another jjot standing near. I am watch- 

 ing it with much curiosity, because if it does this, 

 the old plant will j)rove that it has a high degree 

 of intelligence, and that although it remained 

 tjuiescent for so many years, it was only from lack 

 of opportunity t(j do more than cjuietly endure its 

 privations. 



In tropical countries, some plants and trees such 

 as MoiLstera and Philodetidroii send down slender 

 aerial roots called lianes, man}' hundred feet in 

 length. 



In the Aeroid House at Kew, I remember seeing 

 these lianes coming down from the roof of the 

 house in .search of water and earthy nourishment. 

 It seemed like actual intelligence that directed 

 these n^ots to a tank of water tw"ent)'-five feet 

 distant from their starting-point above. Whilst we 

 are considering this subject, I ma\- mention the 

 curi(jus r(X)t action of a kind of fig-tree growing in 

 the trojMcs which is sometimes known by the name 

 of the " Murderer." Its seed often falls, or is 



