VEGETABLE ANATOMY. 



203 



hereafter found another part of some wonderful adap- 

 tation of means to ends, which, although not capable 

 of explanation in the present instance, we may feel 

 perfectly persuaded of the existence of. 



A slice of the firm tendril of this plant is so easily 

 obtained, and shews so well the machinery by which 

 that slender part bears its heavy pitcher, that I am 

 sure you will be sorry to miss the opportunity of study- 

 ing it. Take the finest imaginable transverse slice, 

 and cut out of it a wedge {Plate XL VI II. E.), the 

 top of which shall be the circumference, and the point 

 the centre of the tendril. You will find that it is com- 

 posed chiefly of roundish cells, the principal difference 

 in which is, that those next the centre (e.— ^.) have 

 thinner and weaker sides than those next the circum- 

 ference (e. — d.') ; and that the whole is bound together 

 by a tough cuticle of small thick-sided cells (c?. — c?.). 

 If the tendril were really composed of nothing more 

 than this, it would have none of the requisite tough- 

 ness and elasticity, either to support the weight of the 

 plant, or to carry the pitcher ; on the contrary, it 

 would be brittle, like a piece of pith or a fungus. 

 But upon looking more carefully at the section, you 

 will perceive, near the centre, four or five little collec- 

 tions (E. c.) of thick-sided cells, surrounding a solid 

 half moon (E.y.), and a small number of light, open, 

 oval, or round spaces (E. c), which you now know 

 are the mouths of vessels ; you will further note that 

 the convexity of the half moon is towards the circum- 

 ference of the tendril. A little way off the centre, 



