102 OBJECT LESSONS IN BOTANY. 



germinates, grows, and bears leaves only ; and in its second 

 year it blossoms, bears frnit, and dies. Sucli are tlie Beet 

 and Radisb. 



213. A perennial plant survives several or many years. 

 There are herbaceous perennials and woody perennials. The 

 herbaceous perennials, or perennial herbs^ are such as survive 

 the winter only by their roots or their parts which grow 

 underground. These in Spring send up leaves, flowers, and 

 and often stems, all of which perish in Autumn, leaving only 

 the parts underground alive as before. Such are the Hop, 

 Asters, Yiolets. 



214. Woody jperennials survive the winter by their stems 

 as well as roots, and usually grow several years before flow- 

 ering, and thence flower annually during their existence. 

 According to their size, such plants are trees, shrubs, under- 

 shrubs. A tree is the largest among plants, having a perma- 

 nent, woody stem, usually unbranched lelow, and dividing 

 into branches above. The Oaks, Elms, and Pines are famil- 

 iar examples. 



215. A bhrub is smaller than a tree, usually growing in 

 clusters from one underground mass of roots. The Lilacs, 

 Roses, Alders, are shricbs. Small shrubs, about of our own 

 stature, as the Currants, Brambles, we call lushes. Yery 

 low shrubs, as the Blueberries, Box, &c., are under shrubs. 



213. Describe a perennial plant. Of what two sorts ? Describe a peren- 

 nial herb. 



215. A tree, a slirub, bush, undershrub, — bow distinguished? To which 

 of the above-mentioned sorts does the Cabbage belong ? To which the Hol- 

 lyhock? the Balsamine ? Four-o'clock? To which the Tulip? Golden-rod? 

 Lily? Pink? Quince? &c. 



