STEMS OF MONOCOTYLEDONS 149 



4. Is there any difference in the height of the stem of a dandelion 

 flower and a dandelion ball? 



5. Of what advantage is this to the plant? 



6. By what means does the gourd climb? the butter bean? the 

 English pea? trumpet honeysuckle? grape? maypop? smilax? Virginia 

 creeper? clematis? 



7. Why do we "stick" peas with brush, and hops with poles? 



8. Are gourds, watermelons, squashes, pumpkins, etc., naturally 

 climbing, or prostrate? 



9. Why does not the gardener provide them with poles or trellises 

 to climb on? 



10. Name some plants the stems of which are used as food. 



1 1 . Name some stems from which useful articles, such as sugar, 

 gums, and medicines are obtained. 



12. Do twining plants grow equally well on horizontal and upright 

 supports? (159, 1 60, 244.) 



13. If there is any difference, which do they seem to prefer? 



STEMS OF MONOCOTYLEDONS 



MATERIAL. A stem of smilax, asparagus, or other monocotyledon 

 that has stood in red ink for three to six hours. A dried cornstalk ; 

 the handle of a palm-leaf fan. (It would be better, of course, to have 

 all specimens fresh, if possible, and for those who live in the southern 

 States fresh stalks of sugar cane, palmetto, or yucca, will afford admir- 

 able objects for study.) 



213. Examination of a Monocotyledonous Stem. Take 

 one of the dry cornstalks that can be found in the fields, 

 almost anywhere, and study its external characters. How 



are the internodes divided from one 



,p 



another ? What is the use of the very / / c ^ 



firm, smooth epidermis ? Notice a 

 hollow, grooved channel running down 

 one side of the joints, or internodes ; 

 does it occur in all of them ? Is it on 



. ., ... 294. Cross section of 



the same side or on opposite sides a sta ik of com : v, fibro- 

 of the alternate internodes? Follow vascular bundles -, *,cor- 

 one of these grooves to the node from 

 which it originates ; what do you find there ? (In a dried 

 stalk the bud will probably have disappeared, but traces 

 of it can usually be found.) After studying the internal 



