EXAMINATION OF A BUTTERCUP. 



quite so long as the lower ones, and the highest leaves 

 have no petioles at all. They appear to be sitting on 

 the stem, and hence are said to be sessile. The lowest 

 leaves of all, as they seem to spring from 

 the root, may be described as radical, 

 whilst the higher ones may be called 

 cauline (caulis, a stem). The broad part 

 of a leaf is its blade. In the plant we 

 are now examining, the blades of the 

 leaves are almost divided into distinct 

 pieces, which are called lobes, and each of 

 these again is more or less deeply cut. 

 Both petioles and blades of our leaves are 



covered with minute hairs, and so are said 



^J^BK 

 , ^ to be hairy. 



rig. 4. 



Hold up one of these leaves to the light, and you will 

 observe that the veins run through it in all directions, 

 forming a sort of net-work. The leaves are therefore 

 net-veined. 



The points along the stem from which the leaves 

 arise are called nodes, and the portions of stem between 

 the nodes are called internodes. 



5. Let us next examine the Flowers. Each flower in 

 our plant is at the end either of the stem or of a branch 

 of the stem. The upper portions of the stem and its 

 branches, upon which the flowers are raised, 

 are called the peduncles of the flowers. 



Take now a flower which has just opened. 

 Beginning at the outside, you will find five 

 little spreading leaves, somewhat yellowish Fi 



Fig. 4. Radical leaf of Buttercup. 



Fig. 5. Flower of Buttercup, from the bacic. 



