CLIMBING PLANTS 141 



been excessively elastic, would instantly have been torn 

 off and the plant thrown prostrate. But as it was the 

 bryony safely rode out the gale, and with a long range 

 of cable ahead to serve as a spring as she surges to the 

 storm." It is an elegant plant the only representa- 

 tive among our wild species of the cucumber tribe 

 with its vine-like habit and large pale leaves and 

 greenish-white flowers, succeeded by clusters of crimson 

 berries, which are very conspicuous and ornamental in 

 late summer. It is, moreover, an interesting species 

 because of the part it played in mediaeval superstition. 

 It is still known as mandrake in the Isle of Wight and 

 elsewhere, and was formerly largely used in herbalism. 

 An old herbalist informs us " how idle drones, that have 

 little or nothing to do but eat and drink, have bestowed 

 some of their time in carving the roots of bryony, form- 

 ing them to the shape of men and women, which falsify- 

 ing practice hath confirmed the error amongst the 

 simple and unlearned people, who have taken them 

 upon their report to be the true mandrakes." The 

 root of the bryony grows to a great size, and "the 

 Queen's chiefe surgion Mr William Godorous, a very 

 curious and learned gentleman," once showed Gerard 

 " a root thereof, that waied half an hundredweight and 

 of the bignes of a child of a yeare old." 



Of evergreen climbers we have only two examples 

 among out~native species, " the ivy never sear," which 

 cannot be regarded as a hedgerow plant, and the wild 

 madder. The madder is a hook-climber and clambers 

 over rocks and bushes by means of recurved prickles 

 on the stem and leaves. It is mostly found in the 

 neighbourhood of the sea and is common along the 

 Undercliff in the Isle of Wight. I also remember 



