126 The Botanical Gazette. [A 
impossible to ascribe to them any great degree of selectit 
intelligence. . 
The tendrils can coil in such manner as to fasten to almost 
any object except a polished plane surface. If the object 
a cord ora twig the free end coils around it as in the rope e 
periment, while the portion between the plant and the sip 
port is thrown into spiral coils. If a board whose width® 
nearly equal the length of the tendril be placed in contat 
with it, the tip will hook around the farther edge whilea ~ 
spirals are formed which lie flat on the surface. Thus it 
be seen that the size of the object which may be grasped Z 
limited only by the length of the tendril, while it can 9% 
an object however small since the tendril can coil so close 
as to obliterate the central enclosed space. This adaptatie 
was still further shown by the manner in which it fastensto® 
crevices of a brick wall. In doing this the tendril tip finds® 
Way into the small surface cavities of the bricks and ™ 
coils, filling up the cavity in such manner that it can nel 
dislodged without rupturing the tissues. - ae 
Tendrils thrust into smooth glass tubes 2™" in diam 
formed curves throughout their entire length, while the ' 
flexible tip formed a solid spiral completely filling up the ; 
of the tube. It required a force of 10-20% to dislodge 
tendrils. Still others placed in tubes scarcely large 
themselves could not be withdrawn without breaking of 
ing the tube. : F 
_ ifatendril during its period of irritability does Rt. 
In contact with any object reacting as a stimulus, tt 
completing its growth, slowly form into a continuous 
left handed irregular spiral. 
: 
rs 
. 
around the object if it is not too large, and at the samt 
Increases the thickness of the part in contact, ee 
result of the pressure. The tendril may grasp 42 oi 
time during its period of activity, but the part a 
Support and base will not form spirals until it has i 
maturity, which is from a few hours to two days ie 
the immediate cause of coiling is the inequality of ineg 
the upper and lower sides of the tendril. How re | 
ity is brought about need not concern us at this Pras 
tendency to curve were strongest at the tip and ef 
