116 TENDKIL-BEABERS. Chap. 111. 



branclied, with their tips slightly curved. Whilst 

 young they are sensitiye on all sides, but chiefly on 

 the concave side of the extremity. They have no 

 spontaneous revolving power, but are at first inclined 

 upwards at an angle of about 45°, then move into a 

 horizontal position, and ultimately biend downwards. 

 The young intemodes, on the other hand, revolve in 

 ellipses, and carry with them the tendrils. -Two 

 ellipses were completed, each in nearly 5 hrs. ; their 

 longer axes were directed at about an angle of 45° 

 to the axis of the previously made ellipse. 



Laihyrua ffrandijlorus.-r— The plants observed were 

 young and not growing vigorously, yet sufficiently so, 

 I think, for my observations to be trusted. If so, we 

 have the rare case of neither intemodes nor tendrils 

 revolving. The tendrils of vigorous plants are above 

 4 inches in length, and are often twice divided into 

 three branches ; the tips are curved and are sensitive 

 on their concave sides ; the lower part of the central 

 stem is hardly at all sensitive. Hence this plant 

 appears to climb simply by its tendrils being brought, 

 through the growth of the stem, or more efficiently 

 by the wind, into contact with surrounding objects, 

 which they then clasp. I may add that the tendrils, 

 or the intemodes, or both, of Vicia saliva revolve. 



CoMPOSiT^a;. — Mutisia clematis. ■_ — The immense 

 family of the CompositaB is well known to include 

 very few climbing plants. We have seen in the Table 

 in the first chapter that Mikania scandens is a re- 

 gular tmner, and F. MiiUer informs me that in & 



