THE PLANT AND ITS PARTS. 5 



stem of the Ox'alis may continue to grow downwards 

 almost as fine as a thread ; but after a certain distance, 

 it suddenly increases in size, forming a short rod-like 

 structure, from IJ to 2 inches in length, which termi- 

 nates below with a bulb. 



The use of this rod is to store up water, so that 

 when the time comes for the bulb to start into growth, 

 it will have a supply of water to draw from, until it can 

 get it from the rain by means of the roots in the soil. 



This long erect underground stem, which can grow 



Fig. 2.— Runner of Strawberry (Fraffa'ria ves'ca). 



first upwards and then downwards, enables this plant 

 " to climb up," so to say, between the loose stones of 

 walls built up without mortar. This is often the case 

 in Malta, where Ox'alis cer'mca abounds. Many of the 

 stones of the walls there are fringed all round with 

 the little green leaves. 



When growing in a wet, rich soil, it will produce 

 long runners, i.e. branches creeping along the ground ; 

 but they do not rgot at the nodes, or joints, as may be 

 seen in the strawberry runners (Fig. 2). 



