46 BRITISH PLANTS 
a source of danger to xerophytes, their leaves are arranged 
to avoid the effects of full ilumination. This is accom- 
plished in several ways : 
1. The Leaves are arranged in Close Ranks or Files 
on the stems, so that they overlap and shade one another 
—e.9., clubmosses (Fig. 16), the evergreen Veronicas grown 
in gardens. 
The Leaves turn their Edges instead of their Surfaces 
to “the Light.—The Eucalyptus is a xerophyte. During 
the early years of its life, when the plant is more or less 
screened by the trees around, the stem produces horizontal, 
unstalked leaves. Later on it bears long, narrow, sickle- 
Fie. 16.—Lycopodium clavatum (Common CiuUBMoss), WITH SMALL, 
CrowDED Lraves. (StigHTty REDUCED.) 
shaped, stalked leaves, which hang pendant, with their 
edges turned towards the sky. Cladodes and phyllodes 
also are generally vertical. 
The same light-avoiding habit is met with even among 
marsh-plants. The iris, for example, has long, wpright, 
strap-shaped leaves. Many reeds and sedges have 
circular leaves which are erect. Thus plants which in 
other respects appear to be hygrophytes, may, if their 
leaves are long-lived, exhibit some xerophytic adaptations 
for winter conditions. 
We reserve the consideration of the xerophytic charac- 
ters associated with hibernating organs (seeds, buds, 
bulbs, rhizomes, etc.) for Chapter VI. 
