TENDRILS 189 
examine our grape arbor in June we find a num- 
ber of drooping, swaying branches. The leaves 
are scattered singly at intervals of a few inches 
along the branch, each of the upper ones being 
attended on its opposite side by a drooping clus- 
ter of mignonette -scented blossoms. Thus they 
follow down towards the tip of the branch, where 
the clusters suddenly cease, and are replaced by 
long, slender, curving and branched tendrils, some- 
times ten inches long. We might thus reasona- 
bly assume the tendril in this case to be a modi- 
fied blossom cluster, but there is no need for us 
ever to assume such a thing. If we will only 
search with sufficient care we shall at last dis- 
cover the absolute proof of the fact in a tendril 
which is partly in blossom, the nearest leaf-joint 
above it having a full cluster of blossoms, and the 
tendril below it, nearer the tip, not a few scattered 
flower-buds at its tips. This grape-vine instance 
may be taken as a demonstration that in no case 
is the tendril a special or primal organ, but mere- 
ly an old one adapted to a new purpose. In one 
instance from a leaf, in another from a flower- 
stalk, just which can generally be determined by a 
sufficient search for the telltale intermediate form 
somewhere to be found on the plant. 
Among the most beautiful of all tendrils are 
those of the passion-flower and plants of the 
melon family, notably the wild star - cucumber, 
