LECT. X.] POSITION OF LEAVES. 541 



the stem, b. b. the sheathing leaves) ; they are 

 equitant (equitantia), when being opposite they 

 clasp each other, as in the Iris tribe ; and de- 

 current (decurrentia), when the lamellar part of 

 the leaf runs down on each side of the stem (19. 

 in ^ which a. a. mark the leaves, and b. b. their de- 

 current portions). Some succulent leaves ap- 

 pear as if they were unconnected with the stem, 

 and merely resting upon it ; on which account they 

 are termed loose (soluta). 



Leaves which produce spines in the same man- 

 ner as the stem, are termed spiniferous (spini- 

 fera), (21, page 542): when they give birth to 

 other leaves, they are said to be foliferous (folii- 

 fera), as exemplified in Duckweed, Lemna tri- 

 sulca; and floriferous (florifera), if they bear 

 flowers, as, for instance, on the petiole in Tur- 

 nera cuneiformis, (22, page 542), on the upper 

 disk of the leaf in Butcher-broom, Ruscus acule- 

 atus, (23, page 542): and from the serratures of its 

 margin, in Xylophylla (24, page 542). When they 



