How a Maple tree grows. 



127 



135. Plants are divided into two general classes, 

 flowering and flowerless. Flowering plants and trees 

 produce seeds, each containing an embryo or undevel- 

 oped plant. Flowerless plants, such as ferns, have spores 

 instead of seeds. These appear like brown dust or spots 

 on the leaves. Try to bring a fern leaf with spores on it 

 to your teacher. 



How a Maple Tree begins to grow. 



136. The origin or beginning of a plant is a seed, which 

 is a wonderful combination of all the parts of that plant. 



137. Placed in the ground, the seed sends down its roots 

 to find food or nourishment and also to hold the plant 

 firmly in its place. Then the stem appears above ground. 

 When the plant is grown and perfect, it consists of 

 these five parts : root, stem or trunk, leaves, flowers, 

 and iruit. You may bring some specimens of seeds, and 

 be prepared to mention the name of the tree or plant to 

 which each belongs. 



