8 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



springiness that will allow a " give " when the 

 plant strains in rough weather. 



Not a few plants climb upwards by pressing 

 into service their leaf-stalks ; of these, the garden 

 Nasturtiums and the Wild Clematis are examples. 

 Both these species, particularly the latter, con- 

 trive to rise to a considerable height by twisting 

 their leaf-stalks round the nearest support. The 

 Ivy has resorted to a still more curious method, 

 and is able to attach its stems to trunks of trees 

 and other supports, by means of its adventitious 

 roots which are so freely produced. These pro- 

 cesses serve the double office of climbing organs 

 and also as means of imbibing water ; indeed, in 

 very moist weather the ivy will often send out 

 quantities of the white filaments on the side of 

 the stem which is not attached to the support. 

 Finally the common Bramble scrambles upwards 

 by means of the bent hooks with which its stems 

 abound. These enable the plant to catch hold of 

 any surrounding objects, so that it easily brings 

 its leaves into the lighter position. 



It is not only as a climbing species that 

 the Bramble is remarkable; in another way the 

 plant offers a curious instance of resourcefulness. 

 Every wayside patch is adorned with its black- 

 berry bushes, and one of the reasons for this 



