OF THE INDIVIDUAL PLANT. 299 



nation of a branch by a flower is more frequent in old 

 individuals and in those which have but little watery 

 nutriment. The indefinite development of branches 

 which do not flower favours the production and growth 

 of a great number of nutritive leaves, which tend to in- 

 crease the force of the aggregate, and to deposit here 

 and there stores of nourishment adapted to favour new 

 developments of germs or flowers. The termination of 

 branches by one or more flowers tends to deprive the 

 branches or trunks of the development of nutritive 

 organs, and to consume the deposits of nutriment which 

 may exist in the branches, stems, or roots. 



When the flower only consumes the nutriment con- 

 tained in its peduncle or immediate support, these dry 

 up after flowering in the male flowers, and after the 

 maturity of the fruit in the females. But as the rest of 

 the plant has not been exhausted, it continues to vege- 

 tate, maintained by the branches which have produced 

 nutritive leaves, and the following year new germs are 

 developed. In this manner are formed trees, shrubs, 

 and under shrubs, or, in one word, all Caulocarpient 

 plants. 



When the flowers are more numerous in proportion 

 to the force of the stem which bears them, they exhaust, 

 during the maturation of the seeds, not only the nou- 

 rishment deposited in their peduncles, but also all that 

 of the stem, which then perishes nearly down to the 

 neck ; and the following year the new buds arise from 

 the persistent part or stock ; this happens in perennial 

 herbs, or Rhizocarpient plants. 



Lastly, if the flowers be still more numerous, or require 

 a greater quantity of nutriment in proportion to the 

 force of the stem which bears them, they exhaust, during 

 the maturation of their seeds, not only their peduncles 

 and stem, but also the root ; then, after the maturity of 



