THE PLANT AND THE SEASONS 



365 



SUMMER: SHOWING ALL THE AQUATIC PLANTS ABOVE THt. 



of the foliage that is valuable as a pro- 

 tective measure. It is seen that during 

 very cold weather many plants droop 

 their leaves, and in this manner prevent a 

 serious loss of natural heat. Most people 

 must have observed how different is the 

 bearing of the Cherry Laurel on a frosty 

 morning to what it is in mild weather. 

 There is httle doubt that the leaves would 

 be badly damaged by the cold if they were 

 held out in the normal fashion. 



A very considerable number of plants 

 are herbaceous in habit ; that is to say 

 they do not form any woody material 

 which lasts through the winter above- 

 ground. In these cases it is seen that 

 towards the end of the summer there is 

 a decided slackening in the activity of the 

 plant, and finally the circulation of the 

 sap ceases altogether. In fact, all the hfe 

 of the plant vanishes underground. That 

 there is a very real purpose in this be- 

 haviour on the part of the herbaceous 

 species is certain ; most of these plants 

 are decidedly tender in habit, and few of 

 them are able to produce stems fitted to 

 cope with the rough weather. 



Thouf^'h there is nothing to be seen 



110 



above-ground when the herbaceous plant 

 has retired to rest, there is a very great 

 deal below the surface. The forms taken 

 by roots are very varied, even if we put 

 aside altogether the underground pro- 

 cesses such as bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes, 

 which are, after all, only modified stems. 

 In most cases those parts of the plant 

 beneath the surface are to be regarded 

 as storage chambers upon which the 

 specimen wiU draw when it is called upon 

 to start its spring growth. With some 

 species the amount of energy stored up is 

 very considerable — sufficient to bring the 

 plant to its maturity if moisture is obtain- 

 able. Thus it is seen that a Hyacinth will 

 produce leaves and flowers grown in a vase 

 of plain water. 



All through the winter milhons of seeds 

 have been lying in the earth. These have 

 remained in a state of suspended 

 quiescence, just in the same condition as 

 when they tumbled, brown and ripe, 

 from the parent plant. It is always some- 

 what of a mystery as to how it is that 

 the seeds are so well planted. By some 

 means or other Nature generally manages 

 to get most of her seeds covered in before 



