IX] 



MONOPODIAL RHIZOMES 



119 



next spring. Further forwards, and close beside the 

 extreme tip of the rhizome is a still younger leaf in the 

 form of a mere hump: this will be the expanded leaf of 

 two years hence. Behind the expanded leaf of the present 

 year, are the remnants of those of previous years. From 

 the under surface of the rhizome the true roots are given 

 otf. We thus have a rhizome which grows onwards at its 

 tip, and throws out leaves in succession from its older 

 hinder parts : in other words a rhizome with indefinite or 



Fig. 51. Acorus Calamus, Sweet Flag, ^ nat. size, showing rhizome 

 (B and T). 



unlimited growth of its apex a monopodium. In Oxalis 

 Acetosella, the Wood-sorrel, Herb Paris, the same occurs, 

 except that in each season several scale-leaves are formed, 

 and two or three foliage-leaves and flowers are developed 

 from the axil of one of these. The -short ascending rhizome 

 of the Primrose behaves similarly : each year a tuft of 

 radical leaves is developed, bearing flowers in their axils, 

 while the true end of the rhizome remains as a bud in the 



