2 FLOWERING PLANTS 



The princij^al forms of the root are : — 



The Tap root (3) : examples, Parsnip and Turnip. A tap root ending 

 abruptly, as if bitten oflT, is termed premorse, as in the Premorse Scabious (4). 



The Tuberous root consists of one or more roundish solid masses, from 

 the surface of which rootlets arise, as in the Orchis (5). 



Tubers and Bulbs are not roots, as commonly supposed, but underground 

 stems. 



The Potato-tuber shows this by its eyes or shoots. Other bulbs are 

 formed of fleshy scales, as in the White Lily (7) ; of several concentric coats, 

 as in the Onion and Bluebell (6). When of one uniform solid mass, like the 

 Crocus, it is called a corm. 



A Stem is said to be sim2:)le when without branches, and bearing only 

 leaves and flowers, or leaves only, as the Grass of Parnassus (8). 



A compound stem is repeatedly and irregularly branched, as in the 

 Michaelmas Daisy (9). 



A stem is termed forked when it divides into two branches of equal, or 

 nearly equal, size, as in the Chickweed (10). 



An ascending stem is one which, on first emerging from the root, is 

 horizontal, and then becomes erect (11). When several stems grow from 

 one root, the central one is often erect, and the others ascending, as in the 

 Common Mallow. 



A prostrate stem runs along the ground, and never becomes erect. 



A creeping stem runs along the ground, and sends out roots from its 

 joints (12). Some plants have erect stems and creeping scions or shoots from 

 the base, as the Creeping Buttercup. 



The Axil. — The angle between the leaf and the stem. A flower or bud 

 rising from this angle is termed axillary. The blossoms of the Wall Pelli- 

 tory, or the Balsam, are axillary between the leaves and the stem (1.3). 



The Leaf. — Leaves springing around the roots are termed radical, as the 

 Primrose; those which grow on the stem are alternate, as the Balsam (13); 

 or whorled, as the Common Cleavers (15); or opposite, as the Chickweed (14). 



Leaves without stalks are termed sessile, as the Eryngo (16). 



A leaf which is composed of one piece only is said to be simple, as the 

 Marsh Marigold (17); a ternate leaf consists of three leaflets on a common 

 stalk, as in the Clovers (18); a quinate, of five, as in Cinquefoil (19). A 

 leaf is termed pinnate — from penna, a feather — when a number of leaflets 

 are arranged along each side of a common leaf-stalk, as in the Briar-rose or 

 the Vetches (20). A simple leaf is sometimes wavy at the edge, as in the 

 Oak (21); or three, five, or seven lobed, as in the Mallow (22). A leaf is 

 said to be palmate when the five or seven lobes are more than half-way 

 divided, leaving a portion in the centre of the leaf like the palm of the hand, 

 as in the Potentilla (23). 



A leaf is pedate when the two side lobes are divided a second time at the 

 edge near the stalk (24). 



A pinnatifid leaf is one which is cut regularly into narrow segments, 

 almost to the middle rib, as in the Small Scabious. 



A pectinated leaf is one whose narrow segments resemble the teeth of a 

 comb, as the Water Violet. 



