114 HOW PLANTS CLIMB 



238. Since both ends of the tendril are fixed, when it 

 finds a support, the coiling would tend to twist it in two. It 

 will be found, however, that the tendril coils in different 

 directions in different parts of its length. In Fig. 175 the 

 change of direction in the coil occurs at the straight place 

 beyond the middle. In long tendrils of cucumbers and 

 melons there may be several changes of direction. 



176. The fruit-cluster and tendril of grape are homologous. 



239. Tendrils may be either branches or leaves. In 

 the Virginia creeper and grape they are branches; they 

 stand opposite the leaves in the position of fruit-clusters 

 (Fig. 176), and sometimes one branch of a fruit-cluster 

 is a tendril. These tendrils are therefore homologous with 

 fruit-clusters, and fruit-clusters are branches. 



240. In some plants tendrils are leaflets. Examples are 

 the sweet pea (Fig. 177) and common garden pea. In 

 Fig. 177, observe the leaf with its two stipules, petiole, 



