SECTION 2.] 



A PATTERN PLANT. 



13 



spring. But every such point for new growth may equally bear the name. 

 When there is such a bud between the cotyledons in the seed or seedling 

 it is called the Plumule. This is conspicuous enough in a beau (Fig. 29.), 

 where the young leat'ol" the new growth looks like a little plume, whence the 

 name, plumule. In flax-seed this is very minute indeed, but is discernible 

 with a magnifier, and in the seedling it shows itself distinctly (Fig. 5, 6, 7). 



13. As it grows it shapes itself into a second pair of leaves, which of 

 course rests on a second joint of stem, although in this instance that remains 

 too short to be well seen. Upon its 



summit appears the third pair of 

 leaves, soon to be raised upon its 

 proper joint of stem ; the next leaf is 

 single, and is carried up still further 

 upon its supporting joint of stem ; 

 and so on. The root, meanwhile, 

 continues to grow underground, not 

 joint after joint, but continuously, 

 from its lower end ; and commonly 

 it before long multiplies itself by 

 branches, which lengthen by the 

 same continuous growth. But 

 stems are built up by a succession 

 of leaf-bearing growths, such as are 

 strongly marked in a reed or corn- 

 stalk, and less so in such an herb as 

 Flax. The word "joint " is ambigu- 

 ous : it may mean either the portion 

 between successive leaves, or their 

 junction, where the leaves are at- 

 tached. For precision, therefore, 

 the place where the leaf or leaves 

 are borne is called a Node, and the 

 naked interval between two nodes, 

 an Internode. 



14. In this way a simple stem 

 with its garniture of leaves is de- 

 veloped from the seed. But besides 

 this direct continuation, buds may form and develop into lateral stems, that 

 is, into branches, from any node. The proper origin of branches is from 

 the Axil of a leaf, i. e. the angle between leaf and stem on the upper side ; 

 and branches may again branch, so building up the herb, shrub, or tree. 

 But sooner or later, and without long delay in an annual like Flax, instead 

 of this continuance of mere vegetation, reproduction is prepared for by 



FlO. S. Upper part of Flax-plant in blossom. 



