CLIMBING PLANTS. 117 



indorsed this view, and gave his own observations 

 thus : 



"The tendrils in several common plants will 

 coil up more or less promptly after being touched, 

 or brought with a slight force into contact with a 

 foreign body, and in some plants the movement of 

 coiling is rapid enough to be directly seen by the 

 eye ; indeed, is considerably quicker than is needful 

 for being visible. And, to complete the parallel, 

 as the leaves of the Sensitive Plant and the like, 

 after closing by irritation, resume after a while 

 their ordinary expanded positions, so the tendrils in 

 two species of the Cucurbit acece, or Squash family, 

 experimented upon, 1 after coiling in consequence 

 of a touch, will uncoil into a straight position in 

 the course of an hour ; then they will coil up at a 

 second touch, often more quickly than before ; and 

 this may be repeated three or four times in the 

 course of six or seven hours. 



" My cursory illustrations have been principally 

 made upon the Bur-Cucumber (Sicyos angulatus). 

 To see the movement well, full-grown and out- 

 stretched tendrils, which have not reached any 

 support, should be selected, and a warm day ; 

 77 F. is high enough. 



1 " Sicyos angulatus und Echinocystis lobata." 



