SUPPLEMENT 



method. The tendril may simply form a loop or ring about the sup- 

 port, like the nasturtium; or it may circumnutate and coil after grasp- 

 ing the support, like the passion vine ; or it may turn away from the 

 light in seeking attachment, like the Virginia creeper and other 

 plants accustomed to climb up walls, rocks, or tree trunks. In the 

 nasturtium it is the leaf or flower stem that acts as a tendril ; in the 

 pea, modified leaflets ; in the grape, chilicothe and many others, 

 modified branches ; and so on. Let children find out for themselves 

 the habits of the tendrils of the sweet pea, grape, passion flower, 

 chilicothe, pumpkin, &c. At first the tendrils are long and straight ; 

 if they must push their way through under-brush, they do this 

 after the manner of weaving plants, keeping compactly together ; 

 once free to seek a support, they circumnutate until a free tip, often 

 hooked, catches some object ; at once the tendril coils, and perhaps 

 by this means brings its neighbors, also, to some support ; tendrils 

 not reaching an object, coil and usually shrivel and drop. The coiling 

 of the tendrils not only brings the plant nearer to its support, but on 

 account of the resulting elasticity, renders it less likely to be torn 

 away by storms. Light-avoiding tendrils are sometimes provided 

 with little discs ; more often the tendril insinuates itself into some 

 minute crevice or hollow, and then its tip develops a disc-like attach- 

 ment that moulds itself into the crevice like wax, completely filling 

 it. The Bnglish ivy, so common in cultivation, climbs by aerial 

 rootlets. Let the children find out whether these rootlets come only 

 at joints or all along the stem, and whether on the side toward, or away 

 from, the light. Do these roots feed the plant also, as do the suckers 

 of the dodder ? Let them find this out by cutting the twining stem 

 so that it has no connection with the soil. As noted before, the 

 leaves of climbing plants spread themselves out fully to the light, 

 often forming beautiful mosaics. 



Beach plants have the same devices and the same general appear- 

 ance as desert plants and those active during the dry season. This 

 has been set forth at length in Chapter III. Some individual beach 

 plants have also been noted, the sand primrose in Chapter IX ; the 

 beach lupine in Chapter X ; sand verbenas in Chapter XIV ; and 

 succulent beach plants in this Chapter. 



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