214 



ON SEEDLINGS 



Seedling (fig. 512). 



Primary root tapering downwards, with numerous flexuose, 

 fibrous, lateral rootlets. 



Hypocotyl erect, terete, glabrous, soon becoming woody and grey, 

 variable in length, 4-6 cm. long or more. 



Cotyledons oblong, obtuse, shortly petioled, entire, alternately 

 but obscurely penninerved, with a distinct midrib, glabrous, variable 

 in size ; lamina l'7-2 cm. long, 6-9 mm. wide. 



PIG. 512. Fraxinus excelsior. A. Nat. size. B. An older seedling ; 

 the cotyledons have dropped. Two-thirds nat. size. 



Stem woody, erect, terete, glabrous, pale green, becoming grey ; 

 1st internode 6-10 mm. long ; 2nd 6-8 mm. 



Leaves compound (first simple), cauline, opposite, exstipulate, 

 petiolate, minutely ciliate, ultimately glabrous at the margin, but 

 in the leaves of the adult tree woolly at the junction of the lateral 

 veins with the midrib beneath on the basal quarter of the leaflets, 

 bright green and shining above, pale beneath and finely reticulate ; 

 petioles flattened above, dilated and thickened at the base, scarcely 

 grooved. 



