THE ASSERTIVE PLANT 9 



plenitude of Brambles is to be found in a strange 

 habit which the plant possesses. When, as is so 

 often the case, the Bramble is growing over a pile 

 of stones or rambling up a rough rock wall, it is 

 seen that the plant takes root all over the place. 

 If the lusty shoots which are sent out in such 

 profusion come into contact with a little vege- 

 table mould that may have collected between the 

 chinks of two stones, or even rest for any length 

 of time upon the ground, the tips quickly lose 

 their original character. All the features of a 

 growing shoot vanish, and the point, becoming 

 clubbed, eventually sends out roots. Thus a 

 fresh hold has been secured by the aggressive 

 Bramble. 



The budding propensities of certain plants are 

 very interesting in the part which they play in 

 helping the species to spread over the surface of 

 the ground. An Indian evergreen shrub belonging 

 to the House-leek family produces leaves which 

 at every notch in the border bear an embryo bud. 

 The species, which is named Bryophyllum caly- 

 cinum, can literally produce a score or more of 

 baby plants from any of its leaves. If a leaf is 

 thrown down on the soil the buds quickly develop 

 into perfect little specimens. A North American 

 fern is perhaps even more curious. This is a 



