86 FLOWER-LAND. 



will notice what are called radical* or root leaves. 

 They are called so, not because they really grow from 

 the root, but because at first sight they seem as 

 though they did so. You know that they really grow 

 from the stem base or underground stem as the case 

 may be (p. 67, 73). 



Compare for instance two common plants with 

 radical or root leaves : the primrose in which they 

 grow from the rhizome (cf. Fig. i), and the dan- 

 delion in which they grow from its crown. 

 (Fig. 138.) If you can find a plant of the common 

 avens,t or herb bennet at the right stage of growth 

 you will find upon it not only stem or caitline% leaves, 

 as they are called, but stem base or radical leaves 

 also. 



Now let us pick a few common leaves dandelion, 

 rose, or ash tree will do very well ; and hold one up 

 towards the light, and look at the beautiful network 

 which is made by its veins. (Fig. 27 p. 32.) This 

 network or other pattern which the veins may make 

 is called the venation of the leaf. I say this network 

 or other pattern because sometimes the leaves are 

 straight veined, instead of net veined. You will 

 remember this from Part I. (p. 34). But pick a snow- 

 drop or hyacinth leaf, or a blade of grass, and com- 

 pare their venation once again with that of the ash, 

 or rose, or dandelion leaf. Do you remember what I 



* From the Latin "radix," a root. 



f Gen i n urbamun. 



t From the Latin " caul is" a stem. 



