WESTERN PLANE. 251 



rounded, and sometimes the two lowermost lobes 

 are not very prominent. Unlike the Sycamore 

 the leaf edge of the Plane is almost unindented, 

 but, like it, a principal vein runs from the top of 

 the leaf stalk to the apex of each lobe and gives 

 out branches which fork alternately from it on 

 either side. From veins and branch veins diverge 

 veinlets which traverse the entire leafy surface and 

 form a minute system of reticulation. 



The early autumn colouring of the "Western 

 Plane is very striking and beautiful hues of 

 yellow, orange, russet, and sometimes red invading 

 the yet green summer leaf. The advance of the 

 change often produces fine contrasts. Sometimes, 

 unlike the progress of early colouring in most 

 leaves, the principal veins, and the tissue im- 

 mediately adjacent to them, become tinged with 

 yellow or orange or light golden brown, whilst the 

 rest of the tissue remains green. In the instance 

 of leaves we have already described, we have seen 

 that the contrary is the case, the veins and ad- 

 joining tissue being the last instead of the first 

 to receive the impressions of Autumn. The 

 peculiarity that has just been noticed gives an 



