94 THE SYCAMORE. 



tree, and become disfigured with black rings caused bv fungi. The 

 petiole is longer than the leaf, straight, rounded, and thickened at 

 the base ; underneath it is light green in colour, on the upper side, 

 particularly near the leaf, of a dull red, and it is placed on the twig 

 at an angle of about 60 degrees. The leaves all lie horizontally, but 

 the lower ones are furnished with longer petioles, and are thus 

 enabled to spread out bevond the upper, and so to obtain light and air. 

 This arrangement is shewn in tlic diagram ot the leaves seen on preceding 

 page. 



THE SEEDLING. 



The seed leaves, or cotyledons, of the Sycamore are narrow 

 pointed bands of light green, about two inches long and a quarter 

 of an inch wide. Each pair, when first thev come above the ground, 

 is enclosed in a circular seed case ; \n this- thev lie face to face, 

 rolled up, frf)m tip to base ; sometimes thev are rolled after the fasliion 

 of a watch spring ; more often the direction of the curve is interrupted 

 at a point, and the spiral reversed, (nving to the cotyledons bending 

 back upon themselves. When thev break out from this husk they 

 unroll and separate, disclosing the first true leaves. These leaves are 

 heart-shaped, with a long tapering point and serrated edges, and 

 possess only the rudiments of the lobes characterising the fiiturc leaves. 



THE SYCAMORIt was introduced into England about the i ^th 

 centurv. It will grow in exposed positions, and the br.nu hcs are not 

 much affected by a prevailing sea-breeze. 



Its growth is very rapid, and during the fust ten vears it will reach a 

 height f)f 20 feet, finally attaining to some 90 feet, with a girth of 25 feet. 



It reaches maturity in fifty years, and lives for one-huiuh'cd or 

 one-hundrcd-and-twentv years. 



