62 



MORPHOLOGY OF STEMS. 



botanical descriptions. In fact, while they differ from naked 

 corms in having some investment, they differ from true bulbs 

 only in the greater size of the solid axis and the fewness of 



the investing scales ; 

 the stem or solid body 

 making the greater part 

 of the corm, but a very 

 small part of a proper 

 bulb. There are, more- 

 over, all gradations be- 

 tween the two. 



120. A Bulb, as compared with a corm, may be said to be an 

 exceedingly abbreviated stem, reduced to a flat plate, from the 

 lower face of which roots are produced, from the upper face, 

 leaves in the form of scales ; these scales being either reduced 

 and thickened leaves or the thickened bases of ordinary leaves. 

 Compared with buds (73), it is a very fleshy bud, usually large 

 and subterranean, the axis of which never elongates. It is a 



provision for future growth, the stored nourishment of which is 

 deposited in the leaves, or the homologues of loaves, instead of 

 in the stem. 



FIG. 111. Corm of Crocus, the few thin enveloping scales removed, showing their 

 scars, which mark the nodes, the shrivelled vestige of the last year's corm at the base, 

 and buds developing into new ones on various parts of its surface. 112. Vertical section 

 of a similar corm, with a terminal and one lateral bud. 



FIG. 113. Section of a tunu-ated bulb of the Onion. 



FIG. 114. Vertical section of the bulb of the Tulip, showing its stem or terminal 

 bud (c) and two axillary buds (b, b). 



FIG. 115. Bulb of a Garlic-, with a crop of young bulbs. 



FIG. 116. Vertical section of the corm of a Crocus: a. new buds. 



FIG. 117. Vertical section of the corm of Colchicum (b), with the withered corm oi 

 the preceding (a), and the forming one (c) for the ensuing year. 



