BOTANY. 



m 



The vernation then may be red'mate (a) ; circulate {§•) ; condiiplicate {b) ; 

 'plicate or plaited (c) ; couvolute or supervobite (d) ; involute (e) ; revolute {f). 

 With regard to the combination of leaves in a bud, they may be valvatc (h) ; 

 imbricated, twisted, or spiral (i) ; induplicate {k, I) ; equitant {m) ; half- 

 cquitaiit or obvolute {n). 



In some plants with a shortened axis, the lateral buds produce long 

 branches. Such are the runners of the straAvberry. 



A leaf bud may be subterranean as well as aerial. Some plants, as 

 asparagus, with a perennial subterranean stem, have this terminated by a 

 bud, which, elongating, makes its appearance above the ground, and finally 

 developes aerial branches, leaves, and flowers. The young shoot of this 

 character is called a turio. The potatoe is a thickened stem with leaf buds 

 which may develope both aerial and subterranean branches : the former decay 

 annually ; the latter, as tubers, remain in the soil. A bulb is a subterranean 

 bud. A corni (see p. 11) is an elongated bud with the scales reduced to thin 

 membranes. Bulbs and corms contain a supply of starch and other matters 

 for the sustenance of the young plant. 



2. Organs of Reproduction. 



The reproductive organs are to be found in the flower, the most important 

 parts of Avhich are the stamens and pistils. When these organs are con- 

 spicuous and definite, the plant is called phanerogamous ; when they are 

 concealed or unconspicuous, cryptogamotis. Exogens and endogens belong to 

 the former, acrogens and thallogens to the latter. The flower, however, in all 

 its parts, is to be considered only as modified leaves. 



The arrangement of the flowers in the axis is knoAvn as inflorescence or 

 anthotaxis. The anatomical distinction between the leaf and the flower 

 bud has already been referred to. The flower bud, like the leaf bud, is pro- 

 duced in the angle of leaves, here called bracts or floral leaves. The general 

 axis along Avhich the flowers or their buds are arranged is called the rachis ; 

 the stalk supporting a flower is the peduncle : peduncles lateral or secondary 

 to this are called pedicels. A flower provided with a stalk is pedunculate or 

 pedicellate ; if Avithout one, sessile. A more philosophical distinction is 

 into primary floral axis (rachis), secondary axis (peduncles), tertiary axis 

 (pedicels), &c. 

 22 



