106 ORGANOGRAPHY. 



buds. Such buds may be either placed one above the other, or 

 side by side. Thus, in certain Willows, Poplars, and in Maples, 

 &c., we have three buds placed side by side (Jig. 200), which fre- 

 quently give rise to a corresponding number of branches. In some 

 Aristoiochias, in Walnuts (Jig. 201), in the Tartarian Honeysuckle 

 (Jig. 202), and other plants, the accessory buds are arranged 

 one above the other. Sometimes the uppermost bud alone de- 

 velopes, as in the Walnut, and thus the branch which is formed 

 arises above the axil of the leaf, in which case it is said to be 

 ex^ra-uxillary. In the Tartarian Honeysuckle the axillary 

 or lowest bud is that which forms the strongest branch, over 

 which a number of smaller branches are placed, arising from 

 the development of the accessory buds. In some trees such as 

 the Fir, Ash, &c., these accessory buds, instead of forming 

 separate branches, become more or less united, and assume a 

 flattened or thickened appearance. Such branches are com- 

 monly called fasciated. These branches may however be 

 produced by a single bud developing in an in-egular manner. 



Besides the above three principal sources of iiTCgular dcA^e- 

 lopment of the branches, other minor ones arise from the 

 formation of extra-axillary branches in other ways than those 

 just alluded to. Thus the stem may adhere to the lower part 

 of the brancli, wliich thus appears to arise from above the axil 

 of the leaf ; or to the petiole or leaf- stalk, when it appears to 

 arise from below it. Other irregularities also occur, but they 

 are of little importance compared to those already mentioned, 

 and need not therefore be further treated of. 



3. Of the Forms and Kinds of Stems and Branches. — In 

 form the stem is usually more or less cylindrical, in other cases it 

 becomes angular, and in some plants, particularly in certain 

 classes, it assumes a variety of anomalous shapes. Thus in 

 many Orchids it becomes more or less oval or rounded, and 

 has received the name of Paeuduhulb ; in the Melon-Cactus, 

 globular; in other Cacti, columnar, more or less flattened, or 

 jointed. In the Tortoise or Elephant's-foot Plant it forms a 

 large rough irregular mass. 



In general stems possess a firm texture, and can therefore 

 readily sustain themselves in an upriglit direction; at other 

 times they are too weak to su])port themselves, and thus require 

 the aid of some other body. In such cases, if they trail on the 

 ground, they are prucuvibetit or prostrate; if when thus reclining 

 they rise towards their extremity, they are decinnbent; or if they 

 rise obli(iuely from near the base, ascending. Some weak stems, 

 instead of resting on tlie ground, take an erect position and 

 cling to neighbouring objects for support. Sucli arc called 

 climbing or scandcnt if they ])roceed in a more or less rectili- 

 neal direction, as in tlie Passion-flower (fig. 209), where they 

 cling toother bodies hy means of little twisted ramificatious called 



