8 PRIMARY BUD [CH. I 



and other buds put out new shoots, which will in their 

 turn elongate and enlarge, add more leaves, buds, and 

 branches, and eventuall}'^ form flowers and fruits, &c. ; but 

 however large and complex it may become, and however 

 long it may live, the huge shoot-system of the tallest 

 Pine or of the oldest Oak was once no more than a bud 

 (plumule) just emerging from between the cotyledons, and 

 terminating the seedling stem of a minute plantlet such 

 as has been described. 



Since the shoot-system is thus merely the developed 

 and differentiated plumule, or primary bud of the seedling, 

 we commence by examining the typical bud in detail. 



