2 THE PLANT AS A WHOLE 



borne. This main part is the plant axis. Above ground, 

 in familiar plants, the axis bears the branches, leaves 

 and flowers ; below ground, it bears the roots. 



4. The rigid part of the plant, which persists over win- 

 ter and which is left after leaves and flowers are fallen, is 

 the framework of the plant. The framework is composed 

 of both root and stem. When the plant is dead, the 

 framework remains for a time, but it slowly decays. The 

 dry winter stems of weeds are the framework or skeleton 

 of the plant. Figs. 3 and 4. The framework of trees is 

 the most conspicuous part of the plant. 



5. THE ROOT PART. The root bears the stem at its 

 apex, but otherwise it normally bears only root-branches. 

 The stem, hoAvever, bears leaves, flowers and fruits. 

 Those living surfaces of the plant which are most exposed 

 to light are green or highly colored. The root tends to 

 grow downward, but the stem tends to grow upward toward 

 light and air. The plant is anchored or fixed in the soil by 

 the roots. Plants have been called "earth parasites." 



6. THE FOLIAGE PART. The leaves precede the flowers 

 in point of time or in the life of the plant. The flowers 

 always precede the fruits and seeds. Many plants die when 

 the seeds have matured. The whole mass of leaves of any 

 plant or any branch is known as its foliage. 



7. THE PLANT GENERATION. The course of a plant's 

 life, with all the events through which the plant naturally 

 passes, is known as the plant's life-history. The life- 

 history embraces various stages or epochs, as dormant seed, 

 germination, growth, flowering, fruiting. Some plants run 

 their course in a few weeks or months, and some live 

 for centuries. 



8. The entire life -period of a plant is called a genera- 

 tion. It is the whole period from birth to normal death, 

 without reference to the various stages or events through 

 which it passes. 



