Sometimes several shoots, when flexible, twine
together into a cable, and thus support one another. Single thin
depending shoots, such as those of the Sollya Drummondii, will turn
abruptly backwards and wind up on themselves. The greater number of
the depending shoots, however, of one twining plant, the Hibbertia
dentata, showed but little tendency to turn upwards. In other cases,
as with the Cryptostegia grandiflora, several internodes which were
at first flexible and revolved, if they did not succeed in twining
round a support, become quite rigid, and supporting themselves
upright, carried on their summits the younger revolving internodes.
Here will be a convenient place to give a Table showing the direction
and rate of movement of several twining plants, with a few appended
remarks. These plants are arranged according to Lindley's 'Vegetable
Kingdom' of 1853; and they have been selected from all parts of the
series so as to show that all kinds behave in a nearly uniform
manner. {15}
The Rate of Revolution of various Twining Plants.
(ACOTYLEDONS.)
Lygodium scandens (Polypodiaceae) moves against the sun.
H.
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