FLOWERING PLANTS INTRODUCTORY 109 



Plant. It will be of use to summarise the points regarding which 

 information should be sought in studying any plant. A scheme 

 such as the following will assist, though it should not limit, our 

 observation, and will ensure its being carried out methodically. 



1. The general appearance of the plant ; the situation in 

 which it grows ; its duration of life. 



2. Root-system : existence or not of a tap-root ; branching ; 

 origin of additional roots from the stem ; whether the root 

 extends deeply or spreads out in the superficial layers of soil. 



3. The vegetative shoots : underground shoots must be 

 carefully distinguished from roots, and studied ; the features of 

 the stem ; the arrangement of the leaves ; branching of the 

 shoot ; the form of the leaves. 



4. Means of vegetative reproduction, if any. 



5. The inflorescence : its branching ; presence and form of 

 the bracts. 



6. The flower : calyx, corolla, stamens, pistil ; shape of floral 

 axis or receptacle ; symmetry of flower, regular or irregular ; pre- 

 sence of nectaries and their position ; method of pollination. 



7. The fruit : construction ; mode of dispersal of the seeds. 



8. The seed : germination ; the seedling. 



ADVICE AS TO PRACTICAL WORK 



The importance of practical work has been emphasised above. 

 Observations on Flowering Plants of the kind described here 

 can be carried out with the help of very simple apparatus, and 

 in any dwelling-room or even in the open beside the plant. The 

 simplicity of the work is one of its great advantages in the teaching 

 of Nature Study. Interest in the life of the plant and patient 

 observation are of more importance than any apparatus, and 

 the great aim of the teacher should be to awaken and sustain 

 the interest of his scholars. Given this interest, the thorough 

 study of one or two plants will lead to observations being made 

 on others. The descriptions of common plants given below are 

 not exhaustive, but will direct the attention of the student to 

 the main features of the plant. They should be used as a help 

 in the practical study of the plant. 



