32 BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS CHAP. 



are produced in the axils of the leaves they are axillary buds. An 

 adventitious bud is one which is produced out of the regular order. A 

 latent or dormant bud is one which remains undeveloped. 



Tillering is a term which is used to describe what takes place when 

 a plant produces a large number of branches from the base of the stem. 



Plants can be divided into (i) A nnual plants ; these only live a 

 single season. (2) Biennial plants ; these during their first year of 

 growth produce foliage leaves and store up food, and during the 

 second season produce flowers and seeds. They only live two years. 

 (3) Perennial plants live three years or more. 



The ascending axis produces leaves, and connects the leaves with 

 the roots. The places on the stem from which leaves spring are 

 termed nodes, and the space between two nodes is called an internode. 



Stems. There are three kinds of stems. 



Herbaceous. 



Soft and green, and 

 die down each year. 



Shrubby. 



Hard and woody, 

 not above twenty feet 

 high. 



Woody. 



Woody. 



These are hard and 

 strong, and grow "Vvwo 

 twenty feet high. 



above 



Aerial Stems grow above the ground. They can be divided into : 

 The Runner, which creeps along the ground, like the Strawberry. The 

 Offset creeps along the ground for a distance from the parent, then roots. 

 The Stolon is a branch which takes root at its end. The Sticker is 

 given off from an underground stem. The Erect Stem grows upright 

 like the Oak. 



Subterranean Stems grow beneath the ground and can be divided 

 into : The Rhizome, which creeps along beneath the ground and pro- 

 duces both roots and leaves. The Tuber is a swollen underground stem 

 which grows from the end of a stolon. The Bulb is a fleshy under- 

 ground bud, and is modified for the storing up of food for future use. 

 The Corm is a solid, fleshy, underground stem. 



Parasitic Stems are produced by parasites. A parasite is a plant 

 which is too lazy to earn its own living, so lives on a host .plant. The 

 Clover Dodder is a good example of such a plant. 



Climbing Plants. There are four classes of these plants. They are as 

 follows : Rootlet Climbers, like the Ivy. Hook Climbers, like the 

 Bramble. Stem Climbers, like the Hop and Convolvulus. Plants 

 which climb with sensitive organs ; they can be divided into (a) leaf 

 and (b] tendril climbers. 



Stems. They may be round, square, ribbed, and triangular. They 

 may be smooth or hairy. The surface may be covered with spines or 

 emergences. 



Leaves are produced as outgrowths of the growing point of the stem. 

 There are four kinds of leaves found growing on the stem : Folio ge 

 Leaves are the ordinary green leaves of the plant. Scale Leaves are 

 found on the roots and young buds. Bracteate Leaves are found at the 

 base of the flowers. Floral Leaves are modified leaves which go to 

 build up the flower. 



