140 TENDRIL-BEARERS. Cuap. IV. 
however, is greater when the sub-peduncle (C) does 
not bear many flower-buds. The common peduncle 
(A) has not the power of clasping a support, nor has 
the corresponding part of a true tendril. The flower- 
tendril (B) is always longer than the sub-peduncle (C) 
and has a scale at its base; it sometimes bifurcates, 
and therefore corresponds in every detail with the 
longer scale-bearing branch (B, fig. 9) of the true 
tendril. It is, however, inclined backwards from the 
sub-peduncle (C), or stands at right angles with it, 
and is thus adapted to aid in carrying the future 
bunch of grapes. When rubbed, it curves and sub- 
sequently straightens itself; and it can, as is shown in 
the drawing, securely clasp a support. I have seen 
an object as soft as a young vine-leaf caught by 
one. 
The lower and naked part of the sub-peduncle (C) 
is likewise slightly sensitive to a rub, and I have seen 
it bent round a stick and even partly round a leaf 
with which it had come into contact. That the sub- 
peduncle has the same nature as the corresponding 
branch of an ordinary tendril, is well shown when it 
bears only a few flowers; for in this case it becomes 
less branched, increases in length, and gains both 
in sensitiveness and in the power of spontancous 
movement. I have twice seen sub-peduncles which 
bore from thirty to forty flower-buds, and which had 
become considerably elongated and were completely 
wound round sticks, exactly like true tendrils. The 
whole length of another sub-peduncle, bearing only 
