107 
as, if not better than, country children; for in our cities 
it nearly covers the walls of the churches. In England 
it grows so luxuriantly that some of the 
old buildings are hidden beneath masses 
of its dark leaves. 
This ivy plant springs from a root in 
the earth; but as it makes its way up- 
ward, it clings to the stone wall by means 
of the many air roots which it puts forth 
Gio 110). 
Our own poison ivy is another plant 
with air roots used for climbing purposes. 
Often these roots make its stem look as 
though it were covered with a heavy growth of coarse hair. 
There are some plants which take root in the 
branches of trees. Many members of the Orchid family 
perch themselves aloft in this 
fashion. But the roots which 
provide these plants with the 
greater part of their nourish- 
ment are those .which hans 
loosely in the air. One of these orchids 
you see,in the picture (Fig. 117). Ttcis 
found in warm countries. The orchids 
of our part of the world grow in the 
ground in everyday fashion, and look 
much like other plants. 
These hanging roots which you see in 
Se the picture are covered with a sponge- 
like material, by means of which they suck in from the 
air water and gases. 
