26 JBotan^ 



from the roots. If we uncover the base of the leaf 

 cluster we find a thickened root-like j^ortion called 

 " the crown of the root," which is really a shortened 

 stem, sending leaves and bloom from its upper sur- 

 face, and roots from the lower surface, The dande- 

 lion, primrose, and cowslip are examples. 



Take a cyclamen plant, lay it bare of earth, and 

 you find a fleshy button, from the top of which grow 

 leaves, from the bottom roots. This button is a stem, 

 which," as a bright child said, " grows sideways, not 

 upwards." Jack-in-the-j^ulpit, beloved of all chil- 

 dren, has a solid bulb, called a corm, or very short 

 stem. The roots are sent out, fringe-like, in a ring 

 about the thickest part, above them rise leaves and 

 Jack. The cyclamen button-stem enlarges and lasts 

 for years ; the corm of Jack-in-the-pul2)it forms tlie 

 first year, is eaten by Jack for his health the next 

 year, another corm forming during this process, just 

 above the roots. 



All this storing up of fleshy stem is to provide 

 food for the upper parts of the plant. The lily, 

 onion, hyacinth form bulbs of thick, bleached imper- 

 fect leaves, about the base of the stem, as described 

 in the previous chapter ; these are devoured in the 

 process of seed making. 



In the woods in May, you find a plant with a 

 slender stem, gracefully bent by the weight of leaves 



