208 BOTANY. 



The Hedysarum Gyrans. 



This plant has a spontaneous motion in its leaves, 

 independent of any external stimulus, even of light, 

 and only requiring a very warm still atmosphere to 

 be performed in perfection. Each leaf is ternate, 

 and the lateral leaflets are frequently seen moving 

 up and down, either equably or by jerks, without any 

 uniformity or co-operation among themselves. 



The Virginian Creeper. 



This creeper has a small tendril, ending in a claw, 

 each toe of which has a knob, thickly set with ex- 

 tremely small bristles, which grow into the invisible 

 pores of the wall, and swelling, stick as long as the 

 plant lives. The vanilla plant climbs round trees by 

 means of tendrils, which, when it has properly fixed 

 itself, drop off and give place to leaves. 



Stinging Nettles. 



Caterpillars are not deterred by the envenomed 

 armour of the stinging nettles from climbing and 

 eating them ; yet they would appear to be peculiarly 

 offensive to such delicate skinned animals. 



Bamboos. 



Bamboos are gigantic grasses, which in some parts 

 of India are believed to bear fruit as they attain the 

 age of 15, and to die immediately afterwards. When 

 very young, you may almost see them grow, and 

 they sometimes attain the height of sixty feet. They 

 have been known to spring 30 inches in six days. 



