PLANTS THAT MIMIC 27 



plants, animals, and insects or in some cases so 

 subtly imitate the surrounding conditions as to 

 pass unnoticed in order to come under the pro- 

 tection of those better equipped for defence. 



Every one knows that plants become changed ac- 

 cording to their habitat. A tree from a tropical 

 climate becomes a dwarf shrub in a northern 

 climate; a desert plant often begins to drop its 

 prickles when placed in a climate and under con- 

 ditions where it no longer needs them; water-loving 

 plants, like the mangrove tree, refuse to send out 

 aerial roots when grown in inland places, and in 

 some cases they actually change their form. There 

 is no doubt that similarity of habitat produces a 

 likeness in form. Water plants nearly invariably 

 have long and feather-like leaves, which give the 

 impression of floating or swaying in the water. 



A plant never mimics another plant or an insect 

 without some good reason. Usually it is to deceive 

 the enemies common to itself and to the better-de- 

 fended plant that it pretends to be. Or if it as- 

 sumes the shape and form of an insect, it is that 

 flower-destroyers may pass it by. 



There are perhaps few examples of imitation in 

 the plant world more wonderful than that found 

 among the orchids. There is the bee orchid, with 

 its marvellous labellum (lip or lower petal) of 



