Tendrils in the Virginian Creeper. 253 



The Affinities of the Tendrils in the 

 Virginian Creeper. 



By A. T. Drummond. 



The Virginian Creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia, Michx.) 

 is the most familiar ornamental climbing shrub found in 

 gardens in Canada. It has, in its native state, a wide 

 range, extending from about the vicinity of Quebec west- 

 ward throughout Ontario to the valley of the Assiniboine 

 in Manitoba. 



When recently examining a number of these plants in 

 different gardens, my attention was drawn to certain pecu- 

 liarities in the growth of the tendrils and to the relation 

 these tendrils bear to the panicles of flowers. The leaves 

 of the Virginian Creeper are alternate, and, to the unob- 

 serving, the impression conveyed is that, on the young, 

 growing shoots, the side of the stem opposite to the point 

 of junction of the petiole with the stem is always fur- 

 nished with a tendril. This, however, is not the case. The 

 first two or three leaves formed on the growing stem or 

 branch have no tendrils to correspond. The reason for 

 this is obvious. The stem, up to the time it has put forth 

 three or four leaves, is both robust and vigorous, and, being 

 at the same time short, can readily retain its position with- 

 out the aid of supporting arms. With the third or fourth 

 leaf, the tendrils make their appearance. Here, however, 

 is an eccentricity on the part of the plant. Instead of the 

 tendrils occurring in consecutive order, one at the base of 

 each petiole but on the opposite side from the leaf, they 

 appear in regular successions of twos, and between each 

 such set of two tendrils, that is, at every third petiole, a 

 tendril is wanting. This peculiarity is uniform, and is 

 characteristic also of Vitis cordifolia. The reason for it is 

 not so clear, unless it is explained in any way by the affini- 

 ties referred to farther on between the panicles of flowers 

 and the tendrils. 



An interesting feature in connection with this absence in 

 the Virginian Creeper of the tendril at every third petiole, 

 is that new, vigorous branchlets chiefly occur at the angle 



