THE VASCULAE CKYPTOGAMS 3 



of the branches is really the same all through the plant, 

 for all branches are really lateral, but they are formed 

 so near the growing-point that the latter seems to give 

 rise to two equal shoots. In the earlier ramifications, 

 both shoots develop similarly, so that we cannot dis- 

 tinguish between the main axis and the branch. This 



FIG. 1. SelaginellaKraussiana,', general view, r, rhizophores ; 

 s, spikes or cones. (Reduced.) 



is not the case with the later-formed branches, which 

 are evidently different from the axis which bears them. 

 When a growing-point gives rise to two perfectly equal 

 shoots, the branching is said to be dichotomous. In 

 Selaginella, the branching is not really dichotomous, but 

 it comes very near to being so. 



The stem bears very numerous small leaves, which 



