140 THE VEGETATIVE ORGANS 



stage the bulb increases in size, and by the end of live or six 

 years it has become a mature flowering bulb (w). After- 

 wards the Bluebell reproduces itself in two ways : (i) by 

 means of seeds, and (2) vegetatively, by axillary buds 

 which form new bulbs close to the parent. 



In bulbs the food is stored mainly in the fleshy scale- 

 leaves or leaf-bases. This food is used up in the spring as 

 new leaves and flowers are formed ; the old scales collapse 

 and die, and form the dirty, shrivelled outer coverings so 

 familiar in bulbs. 



Geophytes. The large food-store in bulbs, corms, and 

 rhizomes provides a ready supply upon which the plant 

 draws on the return of a favourable season for growth. 

 It enables the plants to build up quickly new tissues and 

 complete the growth of the young organs packed in the bud. 

 Being situated deep down in the soil, out of reach of the 

 frost, they are well protected, and many of these plants 

 are among our early spring flowers. In many cases they 

 die down early, having completed their work above ground, 

 and after a short period of rest continue the formation of 

 new organs in readiness for another year. Thus, much 

 activity goes on beneath the surface and unseen throughout 

 the greater part of the year, the actual period of rest being 

 much less than we might suppose from a study only of the 

 parts above ground. 



Plants which pass so much of their time hidden in 

 the soil are called geophytes (Gr. ge = the earth, phyton 

 a plant). In temperate regions, the cold season is the 

 period of hibernation. In tropical and sub-tropical regions, 

 hibernation occurs during the hot dry season. 



Vegetative reproduction. Underground stems of these 

 various kinds provide very effective means of reproducing 

 the plant and extending its range vegetatively. Those 

 with long rhizomes are well adapted to push along and 

 colonize new ground, like Quicks on a waste-heap or in 



