22 LEAVES. 



3. LEAF AND FLOWER BEARING, (foliifera et Jlori- 

 fera) containing the rudiments both of flowers and 

 leaves. 



Observation. Buds containing flowers can in general be distin- 

 guished by their form, being thicker and less pointed than those 

 containing leaves only. 



CHAP. III. 



LEAVES, (folia.} 



THE LEAF, (foliuni) is an organ of vegetables of 

 an expanded form, presenting a much greater surface to 

 the atmosphere than all the other parts of the plant to- 

 gether. 



Observation. Leaves are not merely ornamental to plants ; they 

 are essential organs of vegetation, performing the functions of 

 respiration, perspiration, and absorption. 



Reference. For the anatomy and functions of leaves, see anato- 

 my and physioktgy. 



Observation. The us^s of leaves in the arts, in medicine and 

 as food for animals ; the infinite variety and elegance of their 

 forms, their wonderful vascular structure, and their importance to 

 the plant that bears them, are subjects highly deserving atten- 

 tion, but they are foreign to the purpose of this chapter. Smith. 



LEAFLESS PLANTS, (planter aphyllcK) are those in 

 which the leaves are wanting, the surface of the stem 

 performing the necessary functions. Ex. Glass wort* 

 salicorniu. 



The different situations, insertions, forms and sur- 

 faces of leaves, which are next to he explained, are of 

 very great use in systematical botany. 



I. Situation and position of Leaves. 



1. RADICAL LEAVES, (folia radicalia) are suck as 

 spring fr-Mti the root. Ex. Dandelion. 



2. CAULINE, (caulind) stem leaves, grow on the stem. 



3. RAMEAL, (ramea) branch leaves, sometimes dif- 

 fer from those of the main stem, and tUeri require to be 



