54 THE LIVERLEAF. 



construction. The letters following the name of the organ 

 are the initials of topics at the head of the tablet. 



Scientific Terms. Axial root. Inaxial root. Reflexed. 



X. THE LIVERLEAF. 



Description. In the rich, black mould of the rocky 

 woods, low among the dead leaves where a snowbank lately 

 lingered, peeps up the blue Liverleaf to herald, with the 

 Bluebird, the advent of Spring. Nothing is visible but its 

 leaves and flowers. When lifted from its bed entire and its 

 roots rinsed clear of soil, the plant may be placed in a glass 

 of water, and examined at leisure. 



Analysis. The ffiool is inaxial like that of Ranun- 

 culus, consisting wholly of long branching fibers. 



The Stem is a shapeless body the solid basis of the plant 

 under ground, whence spring the roots downward, and the 

 leaf and flower stalks upward. Such a stem is called the 

 crown, and the plant is said to be acaulescent (stemless), for 

 it has no proper stem. Plants with ordinary stems bearing 

 the leaves and flowers, like the Crowfoots, are said to be 

 caulescent. 



The Leaves are of two ages, some of the last year's 

 growth, and some just arisen. All are supported on long, 

 hairy stalks or petioles which arise from the ground, appar- 

 ently from the roots ; hence they are radical and petiolate. 

 The blade is firm and leathery in texture, that is, coriaceous, 

 and is fashioned into 3 entire lobes (trilobate). In the por- 

 trait (Fig. X) the lobes of the leaves are obtuse at the apex. 

 Is it so in your specimen? 



The VENATIOH of the blade is hand-shaped or palmate. 

 From the end of the petiole in the base of the blade, 3 pri- 

 mary veins diverge, one through each lobe to its apex. 



