CLEOME rUNGENS. 



PRICKLY CLEOME,- OR SPIDERFLOWER. I 5 I 



leaf. Its excessive slenderness, as compared with the main 

 stem, shows us at once that its vegetative growth lias been 

 severely checked, although we notice at the same time that its 

 power of elongation has not been interfered with to the same 

 degree as its power for increase in thickness ; but all at once it 

 receives a sudden check to form the calyx, in which latter there 

 is no sign of any elongating or axial growth. The growth-wave 

 is then again somewhat accelerated in a forward direction, and 

 produces the pedicellate or clawed petals; and finally, it is once 

 more accelerated to a still greater degree for the production of 

 the stamens. Thus we see that in the varying degrees of inten- 

 sity in the growth-wave, and in the degree of rapidity with 

 which the spiral line, along which the vegetative force acts, is 

 drawn in or coiled up, we have the clew to this singular struc- 

 ture, and in some respects the measure of the difference between 

 it and its allies. This, indeed, is true of all plants, but in few 

 is it so well illustrated as in the Cleome pungens. 



The great beauty of our plant makes it a desirable one to 

 cultivate. It thrives well during the summer in any ordinary 

 garden ground, and indeed the hotter the weather, the better it 

 thrives. It grows about four feet high, and as it branches freely 

 from the sides of the main stem, it makes a showy and symmet- 

 rical bush. In ordinary wild locations, unless it happens to 

 find itself in extra rich ground, it does not usually grow more 

 than two feet high. It is an annual in cultivation, although 

 classed as a biennial in most descriptions. 



Prof. Grisebach, a noted botanist, does not believe that plants 

 were created all in one place, and that they have wandered 

 over the world from one home. He is of opinion that there 

 have been many centres of creation. But whether this be 

 so or not as to the first appearance of plants on the earth's 

 surface, it certainly seems to be true that our modern races 

 have home-centres, and that from these they have wandered, 

 and still continue to wander, farther and farther away. Most 

 of the species of Capparidacece are tropical or semi-tropical, 



