36 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
points enlarged, like the paw of an animal, and with which they 
cling to any rough surface ; others again are provided with nu¬ 
merous fibrous processes along the branches, and which adhere to 
any solid body with which they come in contact. These kinds of 
tendrils are exemplified by the ivy and Virginia creeper. 
Tendrils are produced from different parts of the plants : from 
the joints, as in the grape-vine; from the bark of the shoots, as 
the ivy ; from the points of the leaves, as in the pea ; or by the 
twisting or bending back of the petioles over any horizontal body, 
near which they grow, as in the Virgin’s bower. 
Another class of climbers have neither tendrils nor fibrous 
processes to assist their climbing tendency. Their stems having 
a convolute structure, which, as they are lengthened upwards, 
keep twining round any perpendicular body within their reach. 
The hop and the scarlet-runner kidney bean are familiar examples ; 
both these climb to a considerable height, on poles or rods placed 
close to them for that purpose. It is remarkable that these two 
plants ascend spirally, in contrary directions ; the one turning 
with, the other against, the apparent motion of the sun ; thus 
showing that their convolute action does not depend on, or is caused 
by, any external influence to which these plants are subject. It 
also appears that some climbers gain elevation by a convolvant, 
and others by a retrovolvant action ; depending, no doubt, on the 
structural constitution of the stems. 
Whatever may be the cause of these curious movements of 
plants, the cultivator’s treatment of them is clearly enough pointed 
out by their habit. Hence props of various forms are employed, 
as well as trelliage erected in various figures, either within or 
without buildings, and either movable or stationary, and com¬ 
posed of either wood or of wire ; of the latter material, some are 
highly ornamental as well as useful. 
Of climbing plants, in general, it may be averred they are 
extremely elegant in their positions, and a great majorit} r of them 
bear large and beautiful flowers. There are hardly two genera 
to be found more splendidly elegant in their blossoms and habit 
than the Passiflorece and Convolvulacece ; from among which the 
most suitable ornaments for covering the columns of stoves, con¬ 
servatories, and greenhouses, may be selected. The hardy sorts, 
whether herbaceous or woody, are admirably adapted for covering- 
naked walls, forming arbours, screens, or boundaries in flower- 
