FLOWERS. 



35 



nance, are all familiar forms of fruit. How wonder- 

 fully does Nature provide, not only for the repro 

 duction of the plant by this means, but how bounti- 

 fully does she spread around us these her choicest 

 blessings, which are so singularly adapted to our 

 wants ! 



The leaves also of plants present many varieties, 

 both in their shape and arrangement. Sometimes 

 they are placed alternately one above another on the 

 stem; sometimes two are placed opposite each other; 

 and often we see them in what is called a whorl, or 

 radiating from the same point like the spokes of a 

 wheel. They also occur in tufts or bunches thickly 

 scattered on the stem or branches, and sometimes but 

 a single leaf is seen, and that springs immediately 

 from the root, and is termed a radical, while those 

 which grow from the stem are called cauline. Some 

 plants have both cauline and radical leaves, and some 

 have neither. 



The following cuts will illustrate the principal 

 shapes observable in leaves. 



Serrate. 



Palmate. 



Cordate. 



Ovate. Lanceolate. 



These may be separated into two distinct classes, 

 the simple and the compound; the simple being those 



