64 ON LEAVES. 



flowers have each a stem, Mrs. B., independently of that 

 which you say remains undeveloped within the bulb. 



Mrs. B. The shoot which you consider as a stem, is 

 the peduncle or foot-stalk of the flower, not the stem of 

 the plant; the leaves which grow from the stem shoot 

 from beneath the footstalk. The bud or cabbage of the 

 palm tree, when developed, shoots up a footstalk on 

 which the flower expands, while the leaves spread out at 

 its base. The difference between these plants of the 

 tropical and of the temperate zones is, that the stem of 

 the palm-tree being developed, the cabbage is situated at 

 its summit ; whilst, in our more temperate climate, the 

 vegetation of the bulbous plants is not sufficiently vigor- 

 ous fully to develope their organs, and the stem remains 

 in a latent state within the bulb. 



Caroline. How can those plants bud whose stem and 

 branches die annually, such as dahlias, paeonies, and 

 China asters, &/c. ? 



Mrs. B. The new stem and branches shoot from a 

 bud formed at that vital spot called the neck of the plant ; 

 in perennials the stem dies down to this spot, but if that 

 perishes, the whole plant dies. It is situated either on a 

 level with, or rather below, the ground ; and the bud be- 

 ing but little exposed to the weather, is not provided with 

 the same warm covering as most of those which sprout 

 in the air. 



Caroline. That is to say, being protected by their sit- 

 uation, the first rudiments of their leaves do not degen- 

 erate into scales. 



And pray, do all these various kinds of buds originate 

 in some little accumulation of sap in the stem, in the 

 manner you have described to us ? 



Mrs. B. This accumulation of sap is the origin of a 

 bud, so far only as it enables a germ or embryo shoot to 

 grow, by affording it an ample supply of food. 



340. What is the error of Emily concerning the bulb 1 ? 341. 

 What is said of the bud of the palm-tree 1 ? 342. What difference is 

 there between these plants of the tropical and the temperate zones'? 

 343. How can those plants bud whose stem and branches die annual- 

 ly"? 344. How far is an accumulation of sap the origin of a bud 1 ? 



