RAMIFICATION. 99 



ly, producing the whole ramification of the plant. The whole is 

 merely a series of repetitions, from new starting-points, of what 

 took place in the evolution of the first axis, preexistent in the seed. 

 In the seed, therefore, or rather in the embryo it contains, we have 

 the expression, in a condensed form, of the whole being of the 

 plant. The latest ramifications, or twigs, are termed BRANCH- 

 LETS. 



149. The arrangement of axillary buds depends upon that of 

 the leaves. When the leaves are opposite (that is, two on each 

 node, placed on opposite sides of the stem), the buds in their axils 

 are consequently opposite ; as in the Maple, Horsechestnut (Fig. 

 127), Lilac (Fig. 129), &c. When the leaves are alternate, or one 

 upon each node, as in the Apple, Poplar, Oak, Magnolia (Fig. 

 130), &c., the buds implicitly follow the same arrangement. 

 Branches, therefore, being developed buds, their arrangement is 

 not left to chance, but is predetermined, symmetrical, and gov- 

 erned by fixed laws. When the leaves are alternate, the branches 

 will be alternate : when the leaves are opposite, and the luds de- 

 velope regularly, the branches will be opposite. In other words, 

 if a bud in the axil of each leaf is developed into a branch, the 

 relative situation of the branches will be the same as that of the 

 leaves. 



150. But the regular symmetry of the ramification is often ac- 

 cidentally interfered with by various causes, especially by the non- 

 development of many buds. As the original embryo plant remains 

 for a time latent in the seed, growing only when a conjunction of 

 favorable circumstances calls its life into action, so also many of 

 the buds of a shrub or tree may remain latent for an indefinite 

 time, without losing their power of growth. In our trees, most of 

 the lateral buds generally remain dormant for the first season : 

 they appear in the axils of the leaves early in summer, but do not 

 grow into branches until the following spring ; and even then only 

 a part of them usually grow. Sometimes the non-development or 

 suppression occurs without appreciable order ; but it often follows 

 a nearly uniform rule in each species. Thus, when the leaves are 

 opposite, there are usually three buds at the apex of a branch ; 

 namely, the terminal, and one in the axil of each leaf; but it sel- 

 dom happens that all three grow at the same time. Sometimes 

 the terminal bud continues the branch, the two lateral generally 

 remaining latent, as in the Horsechestnut ; sometimes the termi- 



