TREES WITH HIGHLY-DEVELOPED FLOWERS 313 



A comparison should be made of shrubs showing different 

 degrees of bud-suppression, and it should be determined 

 what effect this has on their form ; also how cutting a shrub 

 induces dormant buds to become active. 



The buds are large and slightly sunk in the prominent 

 leaf-bases. They are covered by four or five pairs of green 

 scales which are strongly keeled and, being in crossed pairs, 

 render the bud of a square shape in cross-section. The 

 scales are reduced leaves (leaf-bases) ; the foliage-leaves 

 within are in ten to twelve crossed pairs, and their blades 

 are not folded, but lie edge to edge. Below each bud is 

 a small, crescent-shaped leaf-scar, with one long leaf- 

 trace representing several fused veins. The leaf-cushion is 

 prominent and is continued as two ridges through the 

 length of the internode, the position of the ridges changing 

 with each node. The leaves have no stipules ; the stalk 

 is long, and the blade cordate to ovate ; the margin is 

 entire, ending in a long point (acuminate), and the surface 

 is smooth (Fig. 205, 6). 



The inflorescence is a large, erect, loose panicle of small, 

 but showy, flowers, similar to those of the Privet (Fig. 205, 

 9 and 10). The small calyx has four united sepals ; the 

 four lilac to purple petals are united into a long narrow 

 tube with four limbs spreading crosswise, and on the 

 corolla-tube are two short-stalked stamens (7 and 8). 

 The pistil is superior and consists of two united carpels, 

 and the style is divided above into two stigmas which 

 stand just below the anthers. The last named nearly 

 fill the entrance to the tube and protect the honey, 

 which is secreted by the ovary and rises somewhat in 

 the tube. 



Honey, scent, and colour attract numerous insects, the 

 long tube favouring the long-tongued species. If their 

 visits are not effective, pollen may fall on to the stigma, 

 and bring about self-pollination. 



