56 NEW ZEALAND NATURE-STUDY BOOK 
are modified branches. On reaching a support which, in 
the case of tendrils, may be horizontal in position, these 
| twine themselves spirally round 
it and draw up the plant. This 
spiral arrangement enables the 
tendril to shorten or lengthen, 
and to yield to the pressure of 
wind, etc., when required. In 
the Virginian Creeper the ends 
of the tendrils are expanded 
into discs, which attach the 
plant to the support by acting 
as suckers. 
Leaf Climbers. In what 
is commonly called the garden 
Nasturtium the leaf-stalks find 
Fig. 46.—Leaf of Pea showing support for the plant by coiling 
Leaflets converted into ; : ane 
Tendrils. round slender objects within 
reach. The same mode of 
climbing may be observed in the Clematis. In both these 
cases the stem of the plant itself revolves in order to 
allow the leaves every opportunity of securing the needed 
support. 
Scramblers. These do not adopt any special method 
‘ot climbing; they merely lean against and scramble over 
other plants or objects. In some cases they hold them- 
selves on by means of hooked prickles. In the Bush- 
lawyer and Blackberry this can be well seen, along the 
leat-stalks and mid-ribs, where these plants possess a row 
of sharp hooks, which enable them to cling with great 
pertinacity to any object over which they are climbing. 
NotE.—The work here could be begun in the Infant Depart- 
ment, where pupils could observe some of the methods of 
climbing, and grasp the idea why it becomes necessary for plants 
