272 



HUTCHINSON'S POPULAR BOTANY 



lobes of which, turn downwards, whence their name, from runcina, a saw. 

 They are also called radical leaves, but the term is founded on error, 

 for though they appear to spring from the root, they really arise from the 

 much-shortened stem, and this is the case with most if not all so-called 

 radical leaves. Where, as in the Pearlwort, it is evident on a superficial 

 examination that the leaves proceed from the stem, they are termed 

 cauline. 



How gay the Tropseolums look, with their bright orange and yellow 

 flowers, and handsome peltate leaves ! Peltate (Lat. pelta, a shield) is a 

 good name, for the leaves are held aloft by the plant like true shields, 

 the peculiar insertion of the stalk or petiole on the under side of the blade 

 giving them that appearance. The peltate leaves of the Sacred Lotus 

 (Ndumbium speciosuni), one of the beautiful aquatic plants to be seen in 

 the Victoria Eegia House at Kew, sometimes measure as much as two feet 

 in diameter (fig. 337). Those hardy Begonias in the centre bed rival the 

 Tropaeolums in brilliancy of colour. Notice well their unequal-sided or 

 oblique leaves (fig. 336), which are characteristic of the large family of 

 succulent herbs to which these plants belong. 



Ah, you have pricked your hand against the hedge ! There was need 

 to warn you of the Holly's spiny leaves; but doubtless the offender will 

 be forgiven on account of its associations, and the pleasure which its green 



Photo by\ 



FIG. 331. GROUND IVY (Nepeta glechoma). 

 sdgerow plant, with opposite, kidney-shaped leaves and blue-purple labiate flowers. 



