66 



THE FORMS OF PLANTS 



shady top; another gaiety, from its moving, small, light- 

 colored leaves; another heaviness, from its very large, dull 

 foliage; another strength, from the massive branches; another 

 grace, from the flowing outline or flexile growth. We think 

 of the oak as strong, the willow as lithe, the aspen as weak, 



116. The many trunks of an old olive tree. Italy. 



and the like. Irregular or gnarly trees suggest struggle. 

 If all plants, or even all trees, were alike, we should have 

 little pleasure in them. 



142. The expression of a plant depends to some extent 

 on the character of the shadows in the top. These shadows 

 (or lights and shades) are best seen by looking at the plant 



