74 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



childhood, before settling down to the sterner du- 

 ties of its adult life. When the plants grow tired 

 of swimming they dive to the bottom to rest on 

 some log or rock, where, if favourable, they attach 

 themselves for life. 



Some form of motion is apparent in all kinds of 

 plants, as, for instance, in their growth and creep- 

 ers; but among the most energetic movements is 

 that displayed by the strange telegraph-plant (Des- 

 modium gyrans) of India. The leaves of this plant 

 are divided into three parts, each of which moves 

 continuously: the two external leaflets, which are 

 small, travelling up and down in distinct jerks; 

 the big leaflet moving only slightly. During the 

 entire life of the plant this motion continues. 



A most wonderful example of a plant that rolls 

 and tumbles is the Rose of Jericho. This plant 

 is not really a rose at all, but is one of the Cru- 

 ciferce; it grows on the dry deserts of Arabia, and 

 near Jerusalem. It is sometimes known as the 

 "Resurrection-plant," and is regarded with much 

 awe and reverence by the natives who sell it to 

 travellers. When all the moisture goes out of the 

 soil, the plant becomes hard and dry, its delicate 

 branches roll up into a ball-shape, its seed-pods 

 tightly close, and it draws up its small roots from 

 the hot sands at the least provocation; then, 



