Zbc :fiSeauts ot tbe jflower 83 



if they delayed until the leaves spread out they 

 would be deprived of sufficient air and light. In the 

 maple, elm, oak, birch, willow, and others, the 

 flowers come first. In the catalpa, tulip tree, and 

 magnolia, which are large-flov*^ered, the leaves come 

 first, but the large blossoms appear on the tips of 

 the stems, beyond the leaves, and are not interfered 

 with. 



On many of our ornamental shrubs, as the red- 

 bud, dogwood, Irish cjuince, and others, the abund- 

 ant bloom appears before the leaves are conspicuous. 



The folding of the flower in the bud is as wonderful 

 and interesting as the folding of the leaf, and should 

 be studied in the same manner. 



The placing of flowers upon the stem is also various 

 and worth}^ of close observation. When flowers 

 grow in clusters the leaves near them are small, 

 modified in form, and known as bracts. These bracts 

 frequently appear at the base of the leaf stems of 

 flowers, whether placed singly or in pairs. 



Where a number of flowers grow near together 

 they are more or less crowded, and are said to grow 

 in heads, spikes, clusters, tassels, umbels, catkins, 

 bunches, spadix, and so on. 



The Cottonwood, clover, and button-bush give 

 examples of flowers in heads ; also the snow-ball bush 

 and globe floAver are well-known specimens; the 



