IDENTIFICATION. 203 



to particular situations for room and for light, to dry situ- 

 ations, to the sea-shore, etc. 



While many adaptations are in general clear enough, the 

 beginner will be wise to interpret cautiously and to seek as 

 much external aid as possible. Pure description faithfully 

 carried out is the first step ; the rest will suggest itself in 

 due time to the thoughtful teacher. 



A student's description of two plants is given below. 



DESCBIPTIONS. 



A. THE BARREN STRAWBERRY. 



(Potentilla fragariastrum.) 



I examined specimens on the 4th May. 



There is a perennial underground branching stem, woody 

 in texture, and of an irregular " knotty " appearance. 

 From it arise the adventitious rootlets the main branches 

 of which are woody. Leaves arise in a tuft around the 

 tip of stem. These are stipulate ; the stipules are large 

 and membranous, adnate, but the tips are free. The leaf 

 stalk (petiole) is comparatively long, l^inch or so, and 

 hairy, the blade is 3-lobed, roundly ovate and toothed. 

 Both surfaces have silky hairs. The venation is " penni- 

 iierved." Branches bearing flowers arise in the axil of the 

 foregoing leaves. They are cylindrical, solid, reddish 

 brown, and covered with soft hairs. Leaves here generally 

 resemble those on underground stem but are distinctly 

 smaller. Buds are developed in their axils, bearing flowers. 

 These have short pedicels. 



The Calyx is 5-lobed, lobes free and have bracteoles 

 alternating. The sepals are acute. Petals, 5 in number, 

 are free, alternating with sepals ; white, broadly ovate, 

 1 -notched, with short claw. Stamens .are indefinite in 

 number, the pistil consists of many carpels, free, with 

 filamentous styles and glandular stigma. The carpels are 

 mature before the stamens (proterogynous). 



Runners originate at the end of the root stock, and on 

 these buds arise which give oft' adventitious rootlets. 



