HABIT OF CROWTH IS l>l..\\TS 321 



curious arc llu- modifications and coiilrixances 

 (Icxclopcd h)' |)lants which ha\c accjuircd this 

 hal)it c)f |)arasitism, especially aniontrst such wcirfl 

 tropical species as Kajjlcsia, a hu<^c parasite growing 

 on the Cissus in Sumatra. When the leaves anri 

 flowers of the cissus ha\e w ithered, then here and 

 there a hutj^e knob protrudes from the stem or root, 

 and this i^rows in time to an immense stemless 

 flower, measuring more than three feet across, its 

 cup frecjuentl)- containing as much as twelve pints 

 of liquid, and the weight of the whole flower being 

 said to be about fifteen pounds. 



Differing a little in habit from the [iarasites are 

 the saprophyte plants, which live on decaj'ing vege- 

 tation. The little brown leafless orchid called the 

 bird's-nest orchis is of this character, as well as the 

 ecjuall}' curious coral-root <jrchis. These plants, 

 as well as man)- other parasites, are destitute of 

 chloroph)-ll, and are therefore dej^endent on organic 

 material for food ; this they obtain either as we 

 have seen from living plants or from decaying 

 organic matter. In their efforts to obtain a 

 needful suppl)- of light and air, some plants 

 assume climbing habits, using as supports other 



