EXERCISE XIII 



A STUDY OF LEAF CUTTINGS 



Material. Stock plants of the begonia, bryophyllum calyci- 

 num, and gloxinia, and rooted leaf cuttings of each. 



Many plants having thick, fleshy leaves can easily be propa- 

 gated by leaf cuttings. In some plants the entire leaf is used ; 



in others the leaf is cut 

 half in two and placed 

 in the ground on its 

 edge. In some begonias 

 the leaf is cut into 

 several fan-shaped sec- 

 tions, each cutting hav- 

 ing a portion of the 

 petiole attached. 



Study the begonia, 

 bryophyllum, and glox- 

 inia. Each plant repre- 

 sents a different form 

 of leaf cutting. 



1. Begonia. Draw a 

 leaf of one of the large, 

 thick -leaved types. In- 

 dicate by dotted lines 

 where the cuts should 



FIG. 7. Leaf of the bryophyllum, showing the 

 starting of the young plants 



be made to produce 

 the fan-shaped cuttings. 

 Draw a single cutting. 

 How is it planted ? Where does the young plant start ? Discuss. 



2. Bryophyllum. Draw a leaf natural size, and note the grow- 

 ing points. Describe. This plant is usually propagated by laying 

 the leaf flat on the surface of the ground, where several small 

 plants will start. Study a leaf from which the young plants have 

 started. Where is the origin of each plant ? 



3. Gloxinia. Draw and describe a rooted leaf cutting. 



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