CHAPTER III 



THE STEM 



34. The Stem System. The stem of a plant is the 

 part that bears the buds, leaves, flowers and fruits. Its office 

 is to hold up these parts to the light and air; and through 

 its tissues the various food-materials and nutrients in solu- 

 tion in water are distributed 

 to the parts of the plant. 



35. The entire mass or fabric 

 of stems of any plant is called 

 its stem system. (Figs. 4, 17.) 

 The stem system may be her- 

 baceous or woody, annual, bien- 

 nial, or perennial; and it may 

 assume many different sizes and 

 shapes. (Paragraphs 11 to 13.) 



36. Stems are of many forms. 

 The general way in which a 



Stem system of an apple tree, plant grOWS is Called its habit. 



The habit is the appearance or 



looks. Its habit may be open or loose, dense, straight, 

 crooked, compact, straggling, climbing, erect, weak, strong, 

 and the like. The roots and leaves are the important func- 

 tional or working parts : the stem merely connects them, 

 and its form is exceedingly variable. 



37. Kinds of Stems. The stem may be so short as to 

 be scarcely distinguishable. In such cases the crown of the 

 plant that part just at the surface of the ground bears 

 the leaves and flowers; but this crown is really a very short 

 stem. The dandelion (Fig. 8) is an example. Such plants 



(13) 



