SHOOTS. 



87 



rangement is very different from that found in Monocotyle- 

 dons. It will be noticed how similar in general appearance 

 is the habit of the tree fern and that of the palm (see Fig. 



83). 



61. Lower plants.— In the case of moss-plants, and such 

 algse and fungi as develop stems, the stems are very much 



Fig. 82. A palm of the palmetto type (fan palm), with low stem and a crown of large 



leaves. 



simpler in construction, but they serve the same general 

 purpose. 



62. Conduction by the stem. — Aside from the work of 

 producing leaves and furnishing mechanical support, the 

 stem is a great conducting region of the plant. This sub- 

 ject will be considered in Chapter X., under the general 

 head of " The Nutrition of Plants." 



