66 



They climb either by the help of tendrils (p. 18), 

 or by aerial roots (p. 75), or by twisting 

 themselves round and round the object upon which 

 they climb. 



When the stem rises and then bends down- 

 wards to the ground, it is called procumbent" ; when 

 the base of the stem lies along the ground, but 

 the top part of the stem rises erect, it is called 

 a decumbent t stem ; whilst stems which grow 

 altogether upon the ground are prostrate stems. + 

 When a prostrate stem throws out roots and forms 

 new plants along its course, it is called a creeping 

 stem. (Fig. 14, p. 18.) Sometimes long slender stems 

 are sent out which form small leaves at some distance 

 from the parent plant (Fig. 44 ), and from these 



leaves, a new stem is sent on a^ain. 



Fig. 44. Runner of the Strawberry (Fragaria). 



a the parent plant, n the small leaves, b a new 



plant, s the stolon or runner. 



At these leaves 

 roots also form 

 and produce 

 new plants. 

 These long slen- 

 der stems are 

 called Runners 

 or Stolons. 



Some plants 



* From the Latin " procumbo," to lie down flat, to bend towards. 



t From the Latin " decwnbo" to lie down. 



% From the Latin " ' prosterno" to strike down, to lay flat. 



II Called a Soboles (from the Latin), a shoot or young branch. Some 

 writers have used this word of lengthened Rhizomes, which you will 

 read about further on. 



