PARASITIC PLANTS. 177 



pores it cannot supply itself with nourishment 

 from the air, nor can it absorb water with its 

 club-shaped end. It grows without doubt at the 

 expense of the materials which are contained in 

 this thickened end, which then begins to shrink 

 and soon dies away, while the upper end of the 

 thread lengthens perceptibly. In the meantime, 

 if this part of the seedling comes in contact 

 with anything that would serve it as a support, 

 it embraces it, and its future is generally as- 

 sured. 



" If the seedling finds no support, it falls upon 

 the ground after the withering of the club-shaped 

 end; in this act it often strikes a neighboring 

 plant, and twines itself immediately about it. If, 

 however, a support is wanting and the young seed- 

 ling lies on the bare earth, its future growth is 

 stopped. It keeps alive a wonderfully long time, 

 and may remain unchanged for four or five weeks, 

 waiting for rescue. Often the relief comes when 

 another plant germinates at its sides, or a growing 

 sprout pushes up beside it and touches the Cuscuta. 

 In this case it seizes the friendly cable and twines 

 about it. If no support is forthcoming, the seed- 

 ling dies. It is worthy of notice that these threads 

 which develop suckers when they are fastened to a 



