114 TRUNKS. 



branches arise from a common stem at the same dis- 

 tance from its base, as in the Spruce and White Pine, 

 they are termed verticillate. When the terminal buds 

 produce flowers only, and the lateral ones leaves and 

 branches, the stem is said to be abruptly branched. 

 *The American Honeysuckle, Fig. 17 is an example, 

 and it is easy to tell how many times it has produced 

 flowers, by ascertaining the number of its abrupt or 

 determinate subdivisions. They are distichous, when 

 the branches arise promiscuously from all parts of the 

 stem, and spread only in two directions as in the Hem- 

 lock tree and Silver-Fir, and they are fash 'giate, when 

 the branches arising from different parts of the stem, 

 terminate at equal distances from the ground. 



In some plants the branches are few and scattered, 

 in others they are crowded, so as almost to conceal the 

 stem. 



When the extremities of the branches are inclined 

 towards the main stem they are compact ; when extend, 

 mg in a horizontal direction, they are diverging ; and 

 when they form an obtuse angle with the superior por- 

 tion of the stem, they are divaricate. Some branches 

 are erect, as in the Lombardy Poplar ; others are pen- 

 dant, as in the Weeping Willow and Elm, and their stems 

 are said to be reflected. 



When a stem is occasionally intercepted by knots, as 

 in the Garden Pink, it is said to be jointed ; but if these 

 joints are much contracted, as in some species of Cactus, 

 Fig. 25, the stem is articulated ; when the firm texture 

 of the exterior portion extends to the centre, it is solid; 

 when filled with pith, it is termed pithy ; and when it 

 forms a complete cavity, it is fistulous, or hollow. 

 Plants whose leaves and flowers spring immediately 

 from the ground, Fig. 22, are termed stemless, and the 



