2 THE PLANT AS A WHOLE 



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 frame- 

 work remains for a time, but it slowly decays. The dry 

 winter stems of weeds are the upper part of the framework or 

 skeleton of the plant. (Figs. 3, 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, however, bears leaves, flowers and fruits. Those 

 living surfaces of the plant that are most exposed to light 

 are green or highly colored. The root tends to grow down- 

 ward, but the stem tends to grow upward toward light. 

 The plant is anchored or fixed in the soil by the roots. 



6. The Foliage Part. — The leaves precede the flowers 

 in point of time or in the life of the plant, although the flow- 

 ers may come first in the season (note that peach trees 

 bloom before they leaf). 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, germi- 

 nation, 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 generation. 

 It is the whole period from birth to normal death, without 

 reference to the various stages or events through which 

 it passes. 



9. A generation begins with the young seed, not with 



