VEGET. I I'l I E RETROD UCTION. 



265 



veloped brood buds are formed at the approach of winter 

 about the base of the stem in many perennials with her- 

 baceous tops. These are separated by the death of the parent 

 stem and produce new plants 

 in the spring. Some aquatics 

 show a similar habit, dropping 

 short shoots to the bottom of 

 the water in autumn, which 

 are to grow in the spring (fig. 



295)- 



366. (r) Offsets, etc. — 

 Some plants produce special 

 branches, either underground 

 or aerial, which develop at 

 their extremities new plants or 

 special structures for their for- 

 mation. The housedeek or live- 

 forever (fig. 369) and stonecrop 

 (fig. 296) reproduce themselves 

 by offsets. These are short 

 branches with a rosette of 

 leaves at the tip which is read- 

 ily detached and rolls away, 

 to take root at the first oppor- 

 tunity and establish a new 



plant. The Strawberry and Fig. 298.— A plant of eel-grass (Vallisne- 



ria spiralis) forming new plants, a, b, at 



eel-gl'aSS form long leafleSS tips of runners, arising from axils of lower 

 leaves. One third natural size. \tu-r 



branches which take root at the Schnizlein. 



tip and produce new plants, the slender runner subsequently 

 perishing (figs. 297. 298). The white potato forms at the 

 end of slender underground branches elongated tubers upon 

 which are numerous buds, any one of which, nourished by 

 the reserve food in the tuber, may produce a new shoot. 

 The slender stem by which the tuber is connected with 



