IX] 



MONOPODIAL RHIZOMES 



119 



next spring. Further forwards, and close beside the 

 extreme tip of the rhizome is a still younger leaf in the 

 form of a mere hump: this will be the expanded leaf of 

 two years hence. Behind the expanded leaf of the present 

 year, are the remnants of those of previous j^ears. From 

 the under surface of the rhizome the true roots are given 

 otf. We thus have a rhizome which grows onwards at its 

 tip, and throws out leaves in succession from its older 

 hinder parts : in other words a rhizome with indefinite or 



Fig. 51. 



(B and T). 



Acorus Calamus, Sweet Flag, ^ Dat. size, showing rhizome 



unlimited growth of its apex — a monopodium. In Oxalis 

 Acetosella, the Wood-sorrel, Herb Paris, the same occurs, 

 except that in each season several scale-leaves are formed, 

 and two or three foliage-leaves and flowers are developed 

 from the axil of one of these. The short ascending rhizome 

 of the Primrose behaves similarly : each year a tuft of 

 radical leaves is developed, bearing flowers in their axils, 

 while the true end of the rhizome remains as a bud in the 



