128 GLIMPSES INTO PLANT-LIFE 



frequently shrivel and perish. Some Japanese 

 maples have the same arrangement of hollow leaf- 

 stalks to contain the buds. 



When buds are situated at the end of a branch 

 they are called terminal, and their office is to 

 increase the length of the branch. 



When they grow in the axil of a leaf (that is, 

 where the leaf-stalk joins the stem) then they are 

 called axillary, and as they grow out and form 

 fresh stems and leaves, the branch broadens on 

 either side. 



Seeing that the branches of a tree thus spring 

 from the buds, it follows that the position and 

 development of the buds upon the stem, as we 

 tried to show in the last chapter, have much to do 

 with the ultimate shape of the tree. The develop- 

 ment of the axil buds, as well as of the terminal 

 bud, gives rise to a branched tree like the oak ; 

 these buds, however, are often erratic, and in some 

 trees the terminal bud of the shoot is often sup- 

 pressed and the axil buds grow with extra vigour, 

 whilst in other instances the terminal bud grows 

 strongly and the axil buds either grow feebly or 

 are altogether suppressed. In the bamboos, palms, 



