22 



NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



of an unyielding body. The spirally wound tendril yields 

 like an elastic thread to a pull which would break the ten- 

 dril in its original condition. The meaning of this arrange- 



Coil and Dish. 



ment is to enable the plant to weather a gale which would 

 tear it from its support by snapping the tendrils, if they 

 were not converted into spiral springs. After the tendril 

 has taken hold of a support, spiral coils can be made in it 

 only by the middle part of the tendril turning, and this 

 will cause the coils to be turned one half in one direction 

 and one half in the other. 



