447 



(Fig. 479): these develop into (l>) DWARF-BRANCHES, which commence with 

 1 laterally-placed scale-leaf (fore-leaf ; Fig. 481 v) succeeded by several 

 foliage-leaves with a divergence of J (in a plane at right angles to th it of the 

 mother-shoot), but the whole shoot is extremely small, and often dries up and 

 drops off in the autumn, so that only the scale-leaf, v, with the bud (Fig. 1*1 

 lt t ) in its axil remains. This bud in the following year developes into a new 

 long-branch, and since its leaves lie in a plane at right angles to that of the 

 dwarf-branch, their plane coincides with that of the long-branch from which it 

 is developed (the grandmother axis). The tendrils no doubt may most correctly 

 be regarded as the modified main axis which has been pushed aside by a lateral 

 branch. The branches are then sympodia, whose successive shoots bear al- 

 ternately 1 and 2 foliage-leaves : thus, on the figure there are portions altogether 

 of 5 shoots (I.-V.), the 1-leaved ones are shaded, the 2-leaved ones are white. 

 The following facts however are adverse to this theory : (1) the first leaf on an 

 axillary bud is then situated 180 from the subtending leaf (e.g. the lowermost 

 shaded leaf, Fig. 479, 180 from the lowermost white leaf), whilst the rule in 

 the Dicotyledons is that it is placed only about 90 3 to one side. (2) The buds 

 (Fig. 479 A'j from which the dwarf-branches develop, must then be accessory 

 and sister- buds to the sympoiial shoots, but their first leaves have a different 

 relative position to this, which is very peculiar, and a still more remarkable 

 fact is that the buds, A', etc. ate similar in structure and present in all the n.ril< ; 

 thus we only find accessory buds in the cases where no tendrils are opposite 

 to the leaves, and the main bud must then be considered to be suppressed. 

 (3) The development proves that the tendrils arise on the side of a vigorous 

 growing-point of the stem or by its division, and do not develop, as might bo 

 expected, from the apex of the shoot. But these relations however, find their 

 aualogues and are all capable of explanation, whereas other less natural modes 

 of explanation are opposed to them. 



435 species ; especially in the Tropics ; they are rarer in America. In 

 N. Am. some Vitii-species and Aiupelopsit quinqnufolia are found. Vitis 

 rinifem is supposed to have originated in the districts East and South of the 

 Caspian Sea. Wine is obtained from Fi'fis-species, especially V. xinifera, and 

 "raisins," (the name " currants," given to a special variety with small, seed- 

 less fruits, is derived from Corinth). The specie* of Ampelopsis (Virginian 

 Creeper) are cultivated as ornamental plants. 



Order 5. Rhamnaceae. The stamens are placed opposite tie 

 petals as in the Ampelidacese (Fig. 482), but the flowers are much 

 'more perigynous or entirely eplgynous. The trees and shrubs be- 

 longing to this order have simple, mo'st frequently penninerved 

 leaves with stipules ; frequently thorny (modified branches). The 

 flowers are inconspicuous, sometimes unisexual (Fig. 482), and 

 have 5 (-4) sepals, petals, stamens, and generally 3 (2-">) carpels. 

 The calyx has valvate aestivation. The petals are very sin nil 

 (generally less than the sepals), often spoon-like, hollow, and em- 

 bracing the stamens ; a disc covers the inner surface of the thalamus 

 or the base of the style in the epigynous flower ; gynceceum simple, 



