LEAVES 



\'cn.ition, and b\- a j^laiicc at it \vc can at once 

 sec to which of the great di\i.sions in botan>- a 

 plant belongs. If the fibres are straight and run 

 parallel to each other without being netted, then 

 we know the leaf is that of a plant which begins 

 its life with onl\- one seed-leaf; such 

 are all the species of corn and grass, 

 bulbs, palin-trees, bananas, and others. 



The long name applied to this 

 dix'ision of plants must be ex- 

 plained, as it is a term we cannot 

 do without, and I must own it looks 

 formidable until we understand its 

 meaning. 



The first leaf that comes out of a 

 .seed is called a cot\'ledon, from 

 koti'ilc, a cavit)', or cup. The Greek 

 for one is nuhios, so plants with one 

 .seed-leaf are called monocotyledons. 



If we sow a date-stone or a few seeds of Indian 

 corn in moist soil the\- will grow readih', and 

 afford us lu'ce little specimens of a one-seed leaf- 

 plant. 



If we see that a leaf has netted veins, then we 



MONO- 

 LOTYI.KDOX. 



