ELEMENTARY BOTANY. i* 



about four times as long as thick, the terms having the same sense as when applied to 

 flat surfaces. 



ovoid, when egg-shaped, with the broad end downwards, obovoid if the broad end 

 is upwards ; these terms corresponding to ovate and obovate shapes in flat surfaces. 



globular or spherical, when corresponding to orbicular in a flat surface. Round 

 applies to both. 



turbinate, when shaped like a top. 



conical, when tapering upwards ; obconical, when tapering downwards, if in both 

 cases a transverse section shows a circle. 



pyramidal, when tapering upwards ; obpyramidal, when tapering downwards, if 

 in both cases a transverse section shows a triangle or polygon. 



fusiform, or spindle-shaped, when tapering at both ends ; cylindrical when not 

 tapering at either end, if in both cases the transverse section shows a circle, or some- 

 times irrespective of the transverse shape. 



terete, when the transverse section is not angular ; trigonous, triquetrous, if the 

 transverse section shows a triangle, irrespective in both cases of longitudinal form. 



compressed, when more or less flattened laterally ; depressed, when more or less 

 flattened vertically, or at any rate at the top ; obcompressed (in the achenes of Compo- 

 sites), when flattened from front to back. 



articulate or jointed, if at any period of their growth (usually when fully formed 

 and approaching their decay, or in the case of fruits when quite ripe) they separate, 

 without tearing, into two or more pieces placed end to end. The joints where they 

 separate are called articulations, each separate piece an article. The name of Joint 

 is. in common language, given both to the articulation and the article, but more espe- 

 cially to the former. Some modern botanists, however, propose to restrict it to the 

 article, giving the name of joining to the articulation. 



didymous, when slightly two-lobed, with rounded obtuse lobes. 



moniliform, torulose, or beaded, when much contracted at regular intervals, but 

 not separating spontaneously into articles. 



55- In their consistence Leaves or other organs are. 

 • fleshy, when thick and soft ; succulent is generally used in the same sense, but 

 implies the presence of more juice. 



coriaceous, when Arm and dry, or very tough, of the consistence of leather. 



crustaceous, when firm and brittle. 



chartaceous, or papyraceous, when of the consistence of paper. 



membranous, when* thin and not stiff". 



scarious or scariose, when verv thin, more or less transparent and not green, yet 

 ^her stiff. > j > 



56. The terms applied botanically to the consistence of solids are those in general 

 "se m common language. . 



57. The mode in which unexpanded leaves are disposed in the leaf-bud is called 

 w»e» vernation or prafoliation ; it varies considerably, and technical terms have been 

 Proposed to express some of its varieties, but it has been hitherto rarely noticed in 

 descriptive botany. 



§ 6. Scales, Bracts, and Stipules. 



■J- Scales (Squama) are leaves very much reduced in size, usually sessile, seldom 



™ or capable of performing the respiratory functions of leaves. In other words, 



wy are organs resembling leaves in their position on the plant, but differing in size, 



colour, texture, and functions. They are most frequent on the stock of perennial 



fwnts, or at the base of annual branches, especially on the buds of future shoots, when 



In n *T e a PParer.tly to protect the dormant living germ from the rigour of winter. 



nthe ktt e r case they are usually short, broad, close together, and more or less im- 



JJJH that is, overlapping each other like the tiles of a roof. It is this arrange- 



ST12 We ^ as th ™ usual shape that has suggested the name of scales, Crowed from 



their? 68 ° f a fi8h - ImbricateS scales, bracts^ leaves, are said to be sqnarrose, when 



kq 2" are Pointed and very spreading or recurved. , ,, 



5S - Sometimes, however, most or all the leaves of the plant are reduced to small 



