THE HAWTHORN. 



135 



THE LEAF. 



The leaf-bearing twigs vary in colour from purple-brown to grey 

 on the sides less exposed. The buds, radiating from all sides of the 



twig, are fairly close to- 

 gether. Early in spring the 

 pink scales which enclose 

 them separate, and they 

 appear as little balls of 

 whitish-green. The clust- 

 ered tips of the leaves 

 soon spread away from the 

 new shoot, now rapidly 

 lengthening, which sup- 

 ports their petioles, and 

 a leafy rosette is formed, 

 tapering towards the base 

 where the bud scales still 

 adhere. The upward di- 

 rection of the new shoot 

 now changes to one at 

 right angles with the 

 parent twig, and its crim- 

 son colour can be seen 

 between the opening foli- 

 age, a colour which is also 

 traceable on the under- 

 side of the leaves, and on their petioles. Stipules, leaf-like in form, 

 grow at the base of the shoot, and others of more slender construc- 

 tion are found in pairs at the base of each leaf-stalk. The young 



