6o 



MORPHOLOGY 



{Jatropha gossypifoHa), bichuti {Tragia involucrata), 

 the pods of alkushi {Mucuna pruriens) (see fig. 179), 

 and the involucre of Stegesbeckia (see fig. 201). 



Spines, prickles, and glandular hairs are the arma- 

 ture of plants, by which they defend themselves 

 against the attack of animals. Sir George Watt, 

 writing on armature of plants, says: "The plant mani- 

 fests distinct efforts to defend itself from the attack of 

 animals. Every part of shial- 

 kanta (Argemone mexicana) (fig. 

 63) is one mass of pointed bodies 

 which protect it most successfully. 

 The bael, ankar-kanta {Algan- 

 gium Lamarckii), karancha, and 

 babla are very efficiently armed. 

 In all these cases you observe the 

 spines or sharp-pointed bodies 

 are perfectly straight and nearly 

 horizontal, because for trees they 

 are more useful in that attitude; 

 they are also not developed, you 

 may observe, upon the higher 

 parts of the trees. In erect 

 shrubs, such as bengchi, moyna (Vangueria spinosa\ 

 and kanta-nate {Amarantus spinosus), they are also 

 straight but ascending as if to meet the nose of the 

 grazing cow. The babla, when young, has ascend- 

 ing spines, but as the plant grows to a small tree 

 they become straight and horizontal. It is interest- 

 ing to observe that in climbing plants the spines 

 and prickles are rarely straight, but are bent or 

 curved downwards. In such plants it is evident that 

 they serve a double purpose: they defend the plant, 

 but at the same time assist in elevating it by hook- 

 ing on to objects that are near. The bagan-bilas, 



Fig. 63. — Shial-kanta (^r^s- 

 ■mone 7nexicana) 



