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THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



stalked. The leaf-bases of the two opposite leaves may meet 

 around the stem and form a short sheath. The leaves of the 

 basal rosette have longer stalks. In the axils of the lower pairs 

 of leaves only small buds may be present, but on passing up- 

 wards the leaves gradually dimmish in size, and in the axil of each 



a cluster of flowers is 

 present. As Fig. 98 

 shows, the two oppo- 

 site groups of flowers 

 appear to completely 

 surround the stem. 

 Each axillary group 

 of flowers is a little 

 inflorescence with 

 greatly shortened 

 flower - stalks. The 

 central flower, imme- 

 diately above the 

 bract, is the first to 

 open, and is then fol- 

 lowed by flowers to 

 either side borne later- 

 ally on the stalk of 

 the central flower and 

 so on. The whole ar- 

 rangement resembles 

 that in the Dead- 

 nettle, a close relation 

 of the Bugle. 



The flowers of the 

 two plants are also 

 constructed on the 



same plan, though with important differences of detail. In the 

 Bugle (Fig. 99) the sepals are united to form a wide bell-shaped 

 calyx, with five large teeth at the margin that indicate the number 

 of the sepals. The margins and back of the lobes bear stiff 

 hairs, while the lower tubular portion of the calyx is smooth and 

 often bluish in tint. The petals are united to form a narrow 



FIG. 98. Plant of the Common Bugle in flower. 

 (After Baillon.) 



