A WIDE WORLD OF PLANT-LIFE 39 



IV — Some Curious Differences 



W"e have learnt now a little about two great Divisions 

 in the world of Plant-life. Certain Subdivisions must 

 also be mentioned. 



With the very first beginnings of gro^vth from a 

 Seed sown in the ground or in a pot, we may notice 

 that two humble small green leaflets creep quietly up 

 above the soil. They are the Cotyledons or Seed-leaves ; 

 so-called because they are the first to spring from the 

 seed. Each day they get a little taller ; and soon other 

 leaves grow up from between the two. In time the first 

 pair, having done their share of work, fade quietly away ; 

 and the later leaves are often unlike them in shape. 



Great numbers of plants begin life thus, with the two 

 leaves. In some cases, however, as with the Oak and 

 other Forest trees, we do not see them, for they remain 

 underground, and the leaves which first appear are 

 not true " Seed-leaves." Still, the fact is the same that 

 most of our trees, such as the Oak, the Beech, the 

 Elm, the Birch, the Sycamore, actually do begin their 

 careers with a pair of such leaves. And thousands of 

 lesser plants do the same. 



A very unimportant matter, you may perhaps think. 

 What does it matter ? 



Well, in one sense, perhaps not much. But a good 

 deal that is interesting goes with it. 



Sometimes, in place of those two leaves a plant begins 

 life with only one Seed-leaf; and that makes a consider- 

 able difference; or rather, a considerable difference 

 goes with that arrangement. Plants which spring from 

 bulbs may be said to have only one Seed-leaf. The 



