60 fiUTANY FOR BEGINNERS. | Ch. X. 



238. The " fall of the leaf" may be referred to two causes, 

 the death of the leaf) and the vital action of the parts to which 

 it is attached. If a whole tree is killed by lightning, or anv 

 sudden cause, the leaves will adhere to the dead brancnes, be 

 cause the latter have not the energy to cast them off. 



239. The richness and variety of colouring exhibited about 

 he end of autumn, by American groves and forests, is splendid 



beyond the power of the painter to imitate. Yellow, red, arid 

 brown, are the most common colours of the dying leaf; but 

 these colours vary from the brightest scarlet, and the deepest 

 crimson, to different shades of yellow, from the deep orange *jv 

 Jie pale straw colour. 



Appendages to Plants. 



a set 

 hese \\ 



Fig. 38. 



240. Plants have a set of organs called by the general name 

 of appendages. These we shall now describe. 



241. Stipules are 

 membranous or leafy 

 scales, usually in 

 pairs, at, or near the 

 base of the leaf or 

 petiole. They are 

 various in their forms 

 and situations, arc 

 found in most plants* 

 but are sometimes 

 wanting. In the garden violet, Viola tricolor, (Fig. 38, a, a,) 

 the stipules are of that form called lyrate pinnatijid, while the 

 true leaf (/) is oblong and crenate. The most natural situation 

 of the stipules is in pairs, one on 'each side of the base of the 

 footstal!;, as in the sweet pea ; some stipules fall oif almost as 

 soon as the leaves are expanded, but in general, they remain as 

 lorn* as the leaves. 



242. Prickles, arise from the bark ; they are sometimes 

 straight, sometimes hooked, and sometimes iorked. They are 

 usually found upon the stem, as in the Rose ; but in some cases 

 they cover the petiole, as in the Raspberry 5 in others, they are 



238. To what may the fall of the leaf be referred? 

 23U. What is said of the appearance of American foreits in the A v 

 tumn? 

 240. What organs have plan s besides those already named 1 



241. Describe stipules. 



242. Describe prickles. 



