126 TENDBIL-BEAEEES. Chap. III. 



was securely fastened, tlie tendril itseK described 

 similar but much smaller figures. 



This species climbs well. The tendrils after clasp- 

 ing a stick become thicker and more rigid ; but the 

 blunt hooks do not turn and adapt themselves to the 

 supporting surface, as is done in so perfect a manner 

 by some BignoniacesB and Cobsea. The tendrils of 

 young plants, two or three feet in height, are only 

 half the length of those borne by the same plant when 

 grown taller, and they do not contract spirally after 

 clasping a support, but only become slightly flexuous. 

 Full-sized tendrils, on the other hand, contract spirally, 

 with the exception of the thick basal portion. Ten- 

 drils which have caught nothing simply bend down- 

 wards and inwards, like the extremities of the leaves 

 of the Coryddis clavieulata. But in all cases the 

 petiole after a time is angularly and abruptly bent 

 downwards like that of Eccremocarpus. 



