THE WHITE LILY 147 



and have a base, which embraces about J of the 

 circumference of the stem. The autumnal ground- 

 leaves chiefly differ from the stem-leaves in being 

 stalked, and in having a swollen base, and also in 

 their broader ovate-lanceolate form. 



The arrangement of the veins in the leaf is different 

 from what we found in our dicotyledonous type. In 

 the Lily all the principal veins run from end to end 

 of the leaf, and are approximately parallel to each 

 other. The veins near the middle of the leaf run 

 almost straight, while those towards the edges are 

 more and more curved, so as to follow the outline of 

 the leaf. There are generally three veins more 

 strongly marked than the rest, the midrib being most 

 prominent of all. These larger veins form projecting 

 ridges on the lower surface. The longitudinal veins 

 are connected by oblique branches. The whole system, 

 therefore, forms a network, but of a simpler form than 

 that in the Wallflower. The longitudinal veins are, 

 on the whole, stouter than the oblique connections. 

 There are, as a rule, no blindly ending branches within 

 the meshes, another point of difference from the 

 dicotyledonous type. The position of the blade of 

 the leaf is roughly horizontal in the stem-leaves, and 

 more oblique in the ground-leaves. 



As a rule the flowering stem does not branch ; 

 there is a bud in the axil of each leaf, but it generally 

 remains undeveloped. If, however, the main stem be 

 injured, it may be replaced by a branch developed 

 from one of these buds. In some other species, such 

 as L. lulbiferum, these axillary buds grow into little 



