THE CORN LEAF 



I'M 



Figure 275. — Seedlings. 



a, Horse-chestnut seedling ; b, Honey 

 locust. 



each consisting" of xvlem 



and phloem, but not 



arranged in any regular 



order (Figure 273). Sur- 

 rounding the pith is a 



hard rind which gives 



the plant stiffness. The 



place where a leaf joins 



the stem is called a node. 



Some of the vascular 



bundles of the stem pass 



out through the nodes 



and as veins continue on 



into the leaves. The 



corn stem represents the 



structure of all monocotyledonous plants, as the bean stem 



represents all of the 

 dicotyledons which live 

 only one season. 



214. The Corn Leaf.— 

 The leaf of the corn 

 has no petiole, but is 

 attached to the stem 

 by a clasping lias.-. 

 This base protects the 

 •tenderest part of the 

 stalk, which is just 

 above the node. At 

 the point where the 



clasping pari and the 



blade of the leaf meet, 



there is a collar which 

 prevents water from 



running down inside 



Figure 276. — Older Horse-chestnut 

 Seedlings. 



Note the palmately compound leaves. 



