j^V" 



CHAPTER XXVII 



VEGETATIVE 

 PROPAGATION 



Leaf with little plants. 



A sandworm with buds. 



What is vegetative propagation? What processes in animals may be 

 comparable to vegetative propagation of plants f 



An individual organism begins its independent life when it 

 becomes separated from a preexisting individual. Roots, stems, 

 and even leaves sometimes develop into new plants, although 

 ordinarily their functions are for purposes of nutrition and not 

 reproduction. When a portion of a plant, ordinarily used for 

 nutrition, is separated and used for reproduction, the process is 

 called vegetative propagation. Vegetative propagation is an asexual 

 method of reproduction. Usually, only one organism contributes 

 to the propagation or continuance of the life of the organism. 

 Man makes use of vegetative reproduction to produce new species 

 rapidly. When the method of reproduction of a plant is devised 

 by man, it is called an artificial method of propagation ; when it 

 is found in nature, it is called a natural method. 



Artificial methods of vegetative propagation. Cuttings. Higher 

 plants may be propagated by cutting pieces of stems from the 

 plant and planting these cuttings in moist sand or water. If a 

 twig is cut from a willow tree, and the cut end placed in water or 

 moist soil, roots will usually develop from that end, while buds 

 will develop from the other parts of the cutting. Each cutting will 

 produce the missing parts and grow into a complete, independent 



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