SPRING FLOWERS 125 



from the stem. This also bears the withered bases of leaves 

 of former years. 



The leaves have long slender stalks, grooved on the upper 

 face, which lift the heart-shaped leaf -blade well above the soil. 

 The leaf-blade is simple, its margin being cut into small rounded 

 teeth. The blade and stalk bear numerous short hairs. At 

 the base of each leaf we find a pair of pointed stipules, which 

 assist in the protection of the young parts in the bud. 



In the axils of most of the leaves flower-buds are found, but 

 in some vegetative buds develop. These grow into long creeping 

 branches, which resemble the runners of the Strawberry. The 

 internodes of these branches are long, and a small scale-leaf is 

 borne at each node. Roots also spring from the stem. The 

 end of the creeping shoot ultimately turns up and bears a rosette 

 of foliage-leaves like those of the main plant. The runners thus 

 serve to spread the plant vegetatively, and when they decay 

 the new plants become independent at some little distance from 

 the parent. 



The flowers are borne singly in the axils of the leaves of the 

 main shoot, and also in those of the creeping branches. Flower 

 buds are already well developed in the axils of the foliage leaves 

 in the autumn, but do not unfold till March or April. By this 

 time the foliage-leaves of the preceding year are more or less 

 withered, and the brightly coloured flowers borne on long stalks 

 are conspicuous. The new foliage leaves are at this time beginning 

 to expand. About half-way up the slender flower-stalk two 

 small leaves or bracteoles will be found. Just below the flower 

 the stalk is sharply curved, so that the flower stands horizontally 

 or is directed obliquely downwards. The curvature takes place 

 before the flower opens, and is always directed so as to cause the 

 flower to face the strongest light. The flower itself (Figs. 63, 64) 

 is an irregular one, so that, as borne on the flower stalk, we can 

 distinguish an upper and lower side and right and left halves. 

 The very complex and beautiful arrangements to favour cross- 

 pollination by insects can only be understood after specimens 

 of the flower have been carefully dissected. 



The sepals are five in number, and as usual are of a green 

 colour. One of them stands in the middle line at the back of 



