HERB 69 



CHAPTER XI. 



THE STEM, OB ASCENDING AXIS. 



161. THAT part of the plant which originates with the plum- 

 ule (124, b), and arises above the surface, expanding itself to 

 the influence of the air and the light, is called the ASCENDING 

 AXIS or STEM. 



a. The cause of its upward tendency is unknown (131, note), but is supposed 

 to be in some way due to the principles of light and gravitation. 



162. Although the first direction of the stem's growth is verti- 

 cal, there are many plants in which it does not continue so, but 

 extends in an oblique or horizontal direction, either just above 

 the surface of the ground, or just beneath it. When the stem 

 continues to arise in its original direction, it is said to be erect. 

 When it grows horizontally upon the surface, it is said to be 

 procumbent, creeping, trailing, &c. When it arises obliquely it 

 is an ascending stem, and when it continues buried bejieath the 

 soil it is a subterranean stem. 



a. The subterranean stem, and some varieties of the creeping, have usually 

 been described as roots. 



163. In regard to duration, the stem, like the root, is said to 

 be an n ual when it lives but one season, afterwards dying, at 

 least down to the root, and perennial when its existence is con- 

 tinued beyond one season, to an indefinite period of time. 



164. In regard to the size and duration of the stem, plants are 

 distinguished into trees, shrubs, and herbs. 



a. A TREE is a plant with a perennial, woody stem, or trunk, 

 which does not divide into branches for a certain distance above 

 the ground. Ex. elm, palm. 



b. A SHRUB is a plant of smaller dimensions than a tree, hav- 

 ing a perennial, -woody stem, which divides into branches at 01 

 near the ground, like the alder. A shrub of diminished size is 

 termed an under shrub. Ex. whortleberry. 



c. An HERB is a plant with an annual or perennial root, pro- 



