128 VEGETABLE ORGANOGRAPHY. 



This distinction, which is convenient in descriptive lan- 

 guage, is by no means accurate, for the stem always 

 exists; but it is sometimes very long, at others very 

 short, most frequently very apparent, but sometimes 

 buried in the earth : we are about to show this by some 

 examples. 



Most plants said to be stemless (acaules) only owe 

 this appearance to the shortness of that organ : their 

 leaves and flowers appear to spring from the root, and 

 are called Radical (radicales) because their bases 

 entirely conceal the stem which gives origin to them. 

 Nearly all these plants are capable of presenting a stem 

 well developed when placed in favourable circumstances ; 

 — thus, Carlina acaulis, Astragalus Monspessulanus, 

 Carduus acaulis, Sec. 8cc. are as often found with a 

 visible and developed stem as without any apparent 

 one. 



The globular and depressed body, which it has been 

 the custom to designate by the name of a tuberous root, 

 in the Cyclamen, is a true stem or stock, which gives 

 origin to roots at its inferior side, and produces each 

 year, at its summit, a bud with leaves and flowers. This 

 assertion is confirmed by the mode of germination of 

 this plant, and by the slight greenness this round body 

 acquires when it is exposed to the light. 



In bulbous plants, such as the Hyacinth or Tulip, the 

 stem appears wholly wanting ; but here analogy guides 

 us, and clearly proves that the stem is the orbicular 

 plate which forms the base, and which bears on one side 

 the roots, and on the other the leaves and flowers. In 

 fact, no one refuses the name of stem to that of the 

 the Palms, Yucca, Aloe, and Lilies ; but, by insensible 

 gradations, we can descend even to that of the Hyacinth. 

 In the genus Allium, for example, are found some 

 species with an upright and very evident stem, as 



