26 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



which are indigenous to temperate regions pro- 

 duce comparatively small leaves. Of these the 

 great tribe of Conifers are typical, which with their 

 needle-like leaves do not offer serious resistance to 

 the wind. 



Apart from the Firs, the trees and shrubs 

 which keep their foliage all the winter produce 

 comparatively small leaves, and these are mostly 

 of specially thickened texture so that individually 

 they may not suffer from wind damage. Round 

 the border of the Holly leaf may be traced a kind 

 of selvedge, formed of thickened layers of cells. 

 This does much to prevent the leaf from being 

 torn in rough weather. The small size of the 

 leaves in the case of these evergreens is also to 

 the advantage of the plant in another way, by 

 preventing snow accumulation. The thick leafy 

 branches of the deciduous trees would provide a 

 lodgment for the falling flakes to such an extent 

 that serious bough breakage would result. The 

 dry particles of snow find little to rest upon in 

 the slender foliage of the Fir or the small, narrow 

 leaves of the Yew. 



At all times cold is a great menace to plant 

 life, and a period of severe frost is full of danger 

 to the unprotected vegetable. Yet the low tem- 

 perature which would threaten to destroy the 



