102 TENDRIL-BEARERS. Car. III. 
into. The tendrils failed to attach themselves to a 
brick wall. 
I infer from the adherence of the fibres to the discs 
or balls, that these secrete some resinous adhesive 
matter; and more especially from such fibres becoming 
loose if immersed in sulphuric ether. This fluid like- 
wise removes small, brown, glistening points which can 
generally be seen on the surfaces of the older discs. 
If the hooked extremities of the tendrils do not touch 
anything, discs, as far as I have seen, are never 
formed ;* but temporary contact during a moderate 
time suffices to cause their development. I have seen 
eight discs formed on the same tendril. After their 
development the tendrils contract spirally, and become 
woody and very strong. A tendril in this state sup- 
ported nearly seven ounces, and would apparently have 
supported a considerably greater weight, had not the 
fibres of flax to which the discs were attached yielded. 
From the facts now given, we may infer that though 
the tendrils of this Bignonia can occasionally adhere 
to smooth cylindrical sticks and often to rugged bark, 
yet that they are specially adapted to climb trees 
clothed with lichens, mosses, or other such productions ; 
and I hear from Professor Asa Gray that the Polypodiwm 
incanum abounds on the forest-trees in the districts of 
* Fritz Miiller states (ibid. p. object, terminate in smooth shining 
348) that in South Brazil the discs. These, however, after ad- 
trifid tendrils of Haplolophium, hering to any object, sometimes 
(one of the Bignoniacex) without become considerably enlarged. 
having come into contact with any 
