BUDS AND LEAF ARRANGEMENT. 47 
section of the bud brings to view the young leaves, crowded on 
the stem, and overlapping its growing point. As the bud 
expands, the protective scales, which must be regarded as the 
lowest leaves of the shoot, fall off, and, as the internodes between 
them do not elongate, leave behind narrow scars, which form a 
band of ridges round the stem, marking the commencement of 
the year’s growth. Development of these internodes would serve 
no useful purpose, but simply give a long piece of bare stem. 
The remaining internodes elongate, and in the summer the shoot 
will be found bearing about three pairs of large leaves, and termi- 
nated by a large bud for next year. Jt may be noted here that 
large leaves are always borne in small numbers. Overcrowding 
would result from the presence of many, and the access of air and 
light would be hindered. In a well-developed branch of horse- 
chestnut the growths of several years can be distinguished by 
noticing the successive bands of scars left by the bud scales of 
different seasons. After a certain time, however, the scars are 
obliterated by formation of bark, &c. We may also notice 
in such a branch the large heart-shaped scars of the ordinary 
leaves (p. 43). Within each scar are seven small rounded eleva. 
tions, following the lower curve. These are the ends of the 
vascular bundles that entered the leaf. 
Besides terminal buds we have azillary buds, quite similar in 
structure, and developing into lateral shoots (figs, 2, 4, and 5 A). 
If every leaf-axil gave rise to a shoot which elongated, it is clear 
that branching would follow the leaf arrangement. This, however, 
is not the case. Sometimes buds are only developed in some of 
the axils, and again many buds either die or remain undeveloped 
or dormant. Examine once more the horse-chestnut. ‘Two large 
axillary buds will be seen near the end of every present or 
current year’s shoot. Other dormant buds will be seen as little 
brown bodies in the axils of the older leaves. This non-develop- 
ment of many buds is of considerable importance. In the first 
place, overcrowding is prevented, and then, should the first 
shoots be blighted from any cause, as by a return of severe 
weather in the spring, they can be replaced by growth of the 
dormant buds. It may happen, as a regular thing, that the 
terminal bud dies. If, as in mistletoe, the leaves are borne in 
opposite pairs, the axillary buds of the last two grow vigorously, 
and as the dead end of the parent stem is very small, it appears 
to have forked. This is false dichotomy (p. 24). It also occurs 
in many branches of the lilac. A shoot from this plant generally 
exhibits at its end a pair of vigorous lateral buds, between which 
is a small terminal bud. This last sometimes grows on, and pro- 
1 Such bands are very beautifully seen in the beech. 
