PHYLLODES OR PHYLLODIA. 187 
‘tendrils ; thus in many species of Smilax there are two tendrils, 
one on each side of the base of the petiole (jig. 387), in place of 
the ordinary stipules. 
Phyllodes or Phyllodia.—In the leaves of certain plants, as in 
some Australian Acacias (figs. 388 and 389), certain species of 
Eucalyptus, and of other plants, the parts forming the fibro- 
vascular tissue of the petiole, instead of remaining till they 
reach the blade before separating, begin,to diverge as soon as 
they leave the stem or branch and become connected by paren- 
Fie, 389. 
Fie. 388. 
Fig. 388. A phyllode of an Austra- 
lian Acacia.— Fig. 389. Leaf 
of an Acacia (Acacia hetero- 
phylia), the petiole of which as- 
sumes the character of a phyl- 
lode, and is terminated by a 
bipinnate lamina. The venation 
of the phyllode may be seen to 
be parallel, 
chyma as in the ordinary blade of a leaf; the petiole thus 
assumes the appearance of a lamina and then performs all its 
functions. To such a petiole the name of phyllode has been 
applied. In some cases, as in Acacia heterophylia, the phyl- 
lode is terminated by a true compound blade (jig. 389), and its 
nature is thus clearly ascertained, but in most instances no 
such blade is produced (fig. 388). These phyllodes may be 
distingnished from true blades, not only by the occasional 
production of a lamina as just mentioned, but also by other 
