28 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



Bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes are abundant in South 

 Africa and other dry, warm countries. 



Asparagus, Carrots, many Pelargoniums, and others have 

 fleshy roots for storehouses. 



Just as stems are found under ground, roots often grow 

 above ground. The Rubber Tree has its large root only partly 

 buried. 



The first lateral roots of Zea mays are formed in the 



Fig. 33. — Corms with their " tunics ". i, Antholyza revoluia, Burm. ; 

 2, Gladiolus alatus, Linn. ; 3, Lapeyrousia Pappei, Baker ; 4, Babiana ; 

 5, Synnotia bkolor, Sweet ; 6, Romulea longifolia. Baker ; 7, Hypoxis ovaia, 

 Linn. Jil. 



embryo, in the axil of the cotyledon. A circle of roots is 

 formed in the axil of each leaf of the growing plant for some 

 distance up the stem. Some of these make their way out 

 through the leaves and down to the soil where they absorb 

 moisture and serve to brace the plant. 



In the East and about Knysna, many of the orchids are 

 epiphytic. Epiphytes cling to other plants but are not 

 parasitic upon them (see p. 98). They form dense masses 



