46 



colourless condition. They are covered on both sides with a 

 glaucous layer of wax which prevents them from getting wetted ; 

 the rain-drops therefore can be seen sparkling with a silvery 

 lustre on them. 



The buds are protected by closely fitting scale-leaves 

 (Fig. 29 Л). The terminal bud usually fails to develop, and at 

 the end of the shoot the small, conical, decaying portion of it 

 may be observed (Fig. 29 G, F); sometimes a larger part dies 

 than merely the terminal bud. Below the dead portion two to 



Fig. 29. Vdcchiium иИд'ишвнт. (From West Greenland.) 

 A, Branch in spring (Disko; June 2, 1907: Porsild). B, To shew the mode of branching 

 (reduced) ; /, П, HI are successive axes. C, Runner with scale-leaves which merge by easy 

 stages into foliage-leaves (slightly mag.). D, Apex of a subterranean runner. E, A runner 

 Avith branches and roots in its leaf-axils (July). /'', Portion of a branch, shewing the 

 position of the leaf relative to the axillary bud and the dead apex of the shoot (/). 

 G, Branch (from Upernivik) ; the snow has recently disappeared (May 17, 1887) ; / is the 

 apex of the main axis : the terminal bud is floral. (E. W.) 



four axillary buds develop into new shoots so that the branching 

 becomes dichotomous (Fig. 29 B). The lower part of the year's 

 shoot remains unbranched. 



At the end of tlie flower-bearing branches one to four buds 

 occur which develop into dwarf-shoots, each bearing from one 

 to two flowers (Fig. 30 Л, C, E) ; the buds are protected by 

 scale-leaves. 



The flowers are formed during the year previous to that 



