152 THE HORSE-CHESTNUT. 



the hir-covered cone of the flower-bud, which hcs in the centre of 

 all. These last continue their growth in an upward direction, even 

 after the lengthening petioles ot the outer leaves have brought them 

 to a more horizontal position, and their upper surfaces, with the 

 strongly marked ribs, are shining a bright green. The new stem, 

 also of a brilliant green, is at first almost hidden by the white 

 wool, which either enxelopes it or is stretched like a cobweb from 

 stalk to petiole, covering the underside of the leaves. 



The growth of the fiower-stalk has meanwhile set spaces between 

 the florets it bears, and the segments of the older leaves flatten out 

 and then spread away one from another. The less fully-developed 

 leaves droop till they form a miniature tent with the stalk for a 

 central pole. This position, like the upright one assumed by young 

 beech leaves, serves to prevent excessive transpiration. 



The young shoot continues to grow througliout the summer till 

 it is from twelve to eighteen inches long : it bears ten or twelve 

 rich green leaves, connected with it bv bright green leaf-stalks eight 

 or more inches in length, and arranged in opposite decussate pairs. 



At the point of union the pairs of stalks almost encircle the 

 shoot, whilst a hullnw on the upper surface of each, at the same 

 point, forms a snug hiding place fir the new bud. With the ex- 

 ception of this hollow the stalk is rounded in shape and set on the 

 shoot at less than a ri^ht auLrle, beariuL: the leaf in a horizontal or 

 but slightly drooping position. The seven pear-shaped leaflets have 

 clearly drawn ribs on both up[ier and under surfaces ; they radiate 

 from the stalk in straight lines, a habit of growth w ln\ h is not 

 found in the leaflets of any other tree, though sut h lines may 

 sometimes be traced in the lobes or the ribs (if single leaves. The 

 lateral buds resemble the terminal, except that the absence of a 



