S8 



THE STEM. 



creeping root (see Fig. 16). A tuber is by modern botanists 

 considered as a thickened stem produced by the approximation 

 of the nodes, and the swelling of the internodes, as in the 

 potato. The ordinary herbaceous stems of the potato, when 

 cut into slips and planted, sometimes form branches from its 

 base, which assmne the form of tubers. A corm is a solid, un- 

 derground stem which does not spread by sending out shoots, 

 but remains of a rounded form, and is covered with thin scales 

 on the outside. It is distinguished from a root by sending off 

 annually buds, or thickened branches, either from the apex or 

 side. These buds feed on the original corm, and destroy it. 



The runner is a slender, prostrate stem sent off from the base 

 of the parent stem, cajDable of forming a new plant, as the 

 runners of the strawberry. A sucker is an erect branch from 

 the subterranean part of the stem, which first produces leaves, 

 and afterward roots, as the rose. A stolon is a branch from 

 the lower part of a stem, which falls to the ground and takes 

 root. An offset is a short prostrate branch terminated by a tuft 

 of leaves and capable of taking root, as the house-leek. 



44. A remarkable phenomenon is described by travelers, as exhibited by the 

 stems of the Banyan-tree of India {Ficus Indicus) ; these stems throw out fibers, 

 which descend and take root in the earth. Li process of time they become large 

 trees; and thus _ ^ ,. 



from one primitive -^- - ^^^"^ ^"'^•^«^' 



root is formed a 

 little forest. This 

 tree is called by 

 various names ; as 

 the Indian-God- 

 tree, the arched- 

 Fig-tree, &c. The 

 Hindoos plant it 

 near their temples, 

 and in many cases, 

 the tree itself 

 serves them for a 

 temple. Milton 



speaks of this tree, as the one from which Adam and Eve obtained leaves to form 

 themselves garments ; he says it was not the fig-tree renowned for fruit, but 



'* Such as at this day to Indians known 

 In Malabar or Deean, spreads her arms, 

 Branching so broad and long, that in the ground 

 Tlie ben<led twigs take root, and daughters grow 

 About the mother tree, a pillar'd shade 

 High overarched, and echoing walks between." 



This wonderful tree (Fig. 31) is said to be capable of giving shelter to several 

 thousand persons. . 



45. All varieties of stems belong to two classes : 1st, such as 

 grow externally.) having their wood arranged in concentric 

 layers, the oldest being in the center of the trunk, and the 

 newest forming the outer laj^er ; as may be seen in the oak, 



Fig. 31.^ 



44. Banyan^tree. — 45. Dicotyledononi stems. 



