OP Itt THE TREES. 1$7 



This plant also is able to grow upright, but its 

 lax flower-spike is pendulous, allowing the curious, 

 grasshopper-like flowers to hang two feet or more 

 below the branch. But even yet we have not 

 come to the end of these contrivances, for the 

 Scuticaria can actually grow underneath the limb 

 and hang its flexible, cord-like leaves straight 

 downwards in fact, although the plant may grow 

 on the side, it is utterly impossible for it to stand 

 upright. As may be supposed, it has few com- 

 petitors for this position, and can be considered 

 as having reached the highest point on this par- 

 ticular line. A similar development is exemplified 

 in an epiphytal class of ferns (Acrostichum). 

 Some species have short, thick, leathery leaves, 

 and grow either upright or leaning ; another divi- 

 sion has the leaves thinner, more or less pendant, 

 but still short ; while at least one species hangs 

 down like a bundle of long, flexible ribbons. 



We have spoken of the reservoir of water con- 

 tained in the Bromelias, and must now deal with 

 the contrivances of other plants for preserving life 

 during a long drought. For, although the rain- 

 fall is so heavy, nevertheless there is generally an 

 intermission of at least two consecutive months in 

 every year. Then the epiphytes would wither and 

 die if some provision were not made against such 



