38 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



pelago, is a case in point. The species is altogether 

 most singular in appearance, and consists of a 

 tuberous growth spreading on the branches of 

 old trees, from the upper part of which spring the 

 fleshy stems bearing the foliage. Every part of 

 the tuber is tenanted by small red ants of a very 

 fierce habit, which rush out and defend their 

 homes when any attack is made. Some years 

 ago, certain observers declared that it was through 

 the agency of the ants that the tuberous growth was 

 formed. The story was seriously placed on record 

 that the bites of the ants caused the basal swelling, 

 and also the formation of galleries in which the 

 insects subsequently took up their abode ; fail- 

 ing these attentions, it was declared that the 

 vegetable invariably died. This has of recent 

 years been entirely disproved, for it has been 

 shown that specimens of Myrmecodia may be 

 easily raised from seed and grown to a perfect 

 development, even if ants are entirely excluded. 

 The Yucca plants are natives of America, and 

 when the specimens are in flower a little moth, 

 known as Pronuba yuccasella, may be seen flying 

 round the blossoms. The females of the species 

 spend most of their time in the blooms, where 

 they make arrangements for a novel form of egg- 

 laying. The moth starts with the rolling together 



