THE ELDER. 381 



right angles to them, so that when they in their turn spread, they 

 find room in the unoccupied and alternate spaces between the leaves 

 which opened before them. 



The flower-bud, in the form of a tiny dull purple-red pellet, 

 grows from the base of the second pair of leaves. The form and 

 size of the lull grown leal is shown in the drawing. 



In the newly-opened leal the two outer leaflets bend from base 

 to tip. The main leal-stalk is also curved, and the blades of the leaflet 

 on either side ol the rib are inclined upwards ; older leaves usually 

 present a perfectly flat surface. The leaf generally consists ol two pairs 

 ol leaflets and a terminal leaflet ; occasionally one or three pairs are 

 round. The leaflets grow on short stalks, attached to the main leaf- 

 stalk on opposite sides, and in the same plane with it. 



The main leaf-stalk starts from the twig in an upward curve. 



The leaves are of a very pure green with a dull surface, the 

 under side paler and of a bluer tint than the upper : the ribs are 

 very apparent on the under side. In autumn the leaf turns pale 

 yellow, and in some districts takes richer tints of red and purple. 



RAMIFICATION. 



By the time summer comes a new Elder shoot has grown to 

 about a foot in length, and has put forth two pairs of opposite 

 leaves and a head ol flowers. 



The flower stem is in a line with the shoot, and springs from 

 its apex, where the first pair of leaves are situated. The second pair 

 grow at right angles to these, lower down on the twig. The fol- 

 lowing season the old shoot is not prolonged from the apex which 

 gives forth the flower stem, hut a new shoot appears in the place 

 previously occupied by the leaf-stalks. The shoots spring from the 



