HOW PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES 347 
growths are known from their discoverer as Belt’s bodies. 
The ants bore holes into the large hollow stipular thorns 
shown in the figure, live in these thorns, feed on the 
Belt’s bodies, and protect the acacia from insect and other 
enemies. A nectary on the leaf furnishes additional food 
to the ant inhabitants of the tree. A great multitude of 
plants, some of them herbs, offer more or less important 
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Fie. 242. — An Ant-Plant (Acacia). 
t, thorns ; h, hole in thorn; n, nectary ; 6, Belt’s body on tip of leaflet. 
inducements to attract ant visitors ; the species which are 
known to do this number over three thousand. 
415. Plants which mimic Plants or Other Objects. — 
Instances of mimicry of protected plants by unprotected 
species are not very common. One of the best-known 
cases is that of the dead-nettle, which is so called because 
it looks like the stinging nettle, though it is perfectly 
harmless. Some South African plants (Kleinias) appear 
to mimic pebbles. Certain Mesembryanthemums of the 
