VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION 



155 



2. By Creeping Stems, Runners, Suckers, and Offsets. 



Stolons, or runners, are weak prostrate shoots, lying upon 

 the surface of the ground, which root at their extremity, 

 while the terminal bud gives rise to an erect stem bearing 

 leaves e.g., strawberry (Fig. 56). Suckers are under- 



FIG. 56. RUNNER OF THE STRAWBERRY. 



ground branches which ultimately turn up and enter the 

 air as vertical stems e.g., mock-orange, rose, raspberry. 

 In some cases buds arise adventitiously on roots, and form 

 suckers e.g., elm (Fig. 57), poplar, hawthorn, lilac, rose, 

 raspberry, barberry, apple, plum, apricot, peach, etc. 

 The connections may ultimately die, an^. the new plants 



FIG. 57. SUCKER OF ELM. 



consequently lose connection with the parent. Cutting 

 down the plants to the ground, or uncovering the soil so 

 as to expose the roots to the air and the light, stimulates 

 the formation of these buds. Offsets are short runners 

 e.g., houseleek (Fig. 58), London-pride. These are rosette- 

 plants ; short stolons arise from the axils of the outer leaves, 



