THEIR FORM AND FUNCTION. 227 
(Leea coccinea) they are also (fig. 4) large, oblong oval, obtuse, 
and enclose the whole bud, but they are persistent. Their 
own leaf is developed under the protection of the stipules of the 
preceding leaf, and they themselves cover the one which is to 
follow. 
LEGUMINOSS. 
In this great family there is much variety as regards the 
stipules. In some cases they are well developed, as for instance, 
to mention among English genera only, in many species of Ononis, 
Medicago, Melilotus, Trifolium, Astragalus, Oxytropis, Vicia, 
Lathyrus, &c. In Lathyrus Aphaca indeed they replace and 
perform the function of leaves. 
In the Laburnum the petiole is long, slender, and subterete. 
The stipules are long, narrow, and caducous, reaching to 2-10 
millim. in length, In the early stages of the growing bud the 
pedestal is developed, but not the petiole. The stipules are short 
and occupy the space at the base of the lateral leaflets. The 
leaf at this stage appears to consist of five leaflets, the lowest 
pair, however, being the stipules. They differ from the leaflets 
in being flat—not conduplicate. 
In Wistaria, the pedestals of the upper leaves become 
Fig. 5. 
B. 
Shoots of Spartium junceum.—A. Reduced }. B. Part of do., to show the 
bud protected by the pedestal of the fallen leaf; nat. size. 
gibbous behind and thus form two projections in line, and 
apparently continuous, with the stipules. They are evidently 
intended to assist the plant in climbing. 
In many species the stipules are so much reduced as to be 
