I?vTIlOI)UCTION. ' ' ix 



globular or s^Tierieal^ when corresponding (o orbicular in a flat surface. Bound 

 ax^plies to both. 



iurhinaie, when shaped hke a top. 



conical^ when taperuig upwards : olconicaJ^ whcu tapering downwards, if in both 

 cases a transverse section shows a circle, 



pyramidal, when tapering upwards; ohpyramidal, when taperuig do-Riiwards, 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 m both cases the transverse section sliows 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. 



conipressedy when more or less flattened laterally ; depressed^ -svhen moi'c or less 

 flattened vertically, or at any rate at the top ; ohcompressed (in the achenesof Compo- 

 sitoi)^ when flattened from front to back. 



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

 and aj^proaching 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 oi joint 

 IS, m 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 

 ai'ticle, giving the name oi joining to the articulation. 



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



fnoiiiliform, or beaded, when much contracted at regular intervals, but not sepa- 

 rating 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 firm and stiiF, or verj^ tough, of the consistence of leather. 



crustaceous, when firm and brittle. 



fnembranous, when thin and not stiff. 



scarioiis or scariosey when very thin, more or less transparent and not green, yet 

 rather stiff. 



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

 use in common language. 



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

 their vernation ov prafoUation ; 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. 



58. Scales (Squamce) are leaves very much reduced in size, usually sessile, seldom 

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

 they 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 

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

 they sei-ve apparently to protect the dormant living germ from the rigour of winter. 

 In the latter case they are usually short, broad, close together, and more or leas imhri- 

 cated, thai is, overlapping each other like the tiles of a roof. It is this arrjingcment 

 as well as their usual shape that has suggested the name of scales, borrowed from the 

 scales of a fish. Imbricated scales, bracts, or leaves, are said to be squarrose, wlien 

 their tips are pointed and very spreading or recurved. 



59. Sometimes, however, most or all the leaves of the plant are reduced to snuiU 

 scales, in which case they do not aj^pear to perform any particular function. The 

 name of scales is also given to any small broad scale-like appendages or reduced organs, 

 ■whether in the flower or any other part of the plant. 



■ 60. Bracts {Bractece) are the upper leaves of a plant in flower (either all those of 

 *Jie flowering branches, or onlv one or two immediately under tlie flower), when difler- 



