STEM. 63 



their arrangement ; sometimes they are opposite ; sometimes 

 alternate ; and sometimes, as in the pine, they form a series of 

 rings around the trunk. Some branches are erect as in the 

 poplar, others pendant as in the willow, and some, as in the 

 oak, form nearly a right angle with the trunk. 



These various circumstances constitute distinctive charac- 

 ters in plants, a knowledge of which is very necessary to the 

 painter. Of all our forest trees, perhaps none, in the disposi- 

 tion of its branches, presents a more beautiful and graceful 

 aspect than the elm. 



The branches of trees, as they grow older, usually form a 

 more open angle with the trunk than at first. We often see 

 branches form a very acute angle, but as the tree advances in 

 age, the angles enlarge more and more, until the branch be- 

 comes pendant. 



Fig. 26. 



Some stems are remarkable for bearing bulbs 

 in the axils of their leaves. . These bulbs like the 

 bulbous root, contain within them the germ of a 

 new plant. The LILITJM BULBIFERUM, or bulb- 

 bearing lily is of this description, (Fig. 26.) 



A remarkable phenomenon is described by 

 travellers, as being exhibited by the stems of the 

 Banyan tree of India, Ficus Indicus ; their stems 

 throw out fibres, which descend and take root in 

 the earth. In process of time these stems become 

 large trees, and thus from one primitive root, is 

 formed a little forest. This tree is called by va- 

 rious names ; as the Indian-God-tree, the arch- 

 ed-Fig-tree, &c, 



The Hindoos plant it near their temples, and 

 in many cases the tree itself serves them for a 

 temple. Milton speaks of this tree as the one 

 from which Adam and Eve obtained leaves to 

 form themselves garments ; he says it was not 

 the fig-tree renowned for fruit, but 



" Such as at this day to Indians known 



In Malabar or Decan, spreads her arras, 



Branching so broad and long, that in the ground 



The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow 



About the mother tree, a pillar'd shade 



High over-arched, and echoing walks between." 



Knowledge necessary to the painter Branches alter in their disposition as 

 they grow older Bulb, bearing stems Rooting stems. 



