162 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



the centre, is coated by a waxy substance which is 

 secreted by glandular hairs, from the bases of which fine 

 lines radiate. The epidermis is quite smooth. The 

 upper part of the leaf is not wetted, even by heavy 

 rain, except just at the outer edges, where it is caught 

 by the teeth and the fringe of hair, and conducted to 

 the under surface, which is soon covered by a film of 

 moisture ; and it is interesting to see how rapidly drops 

 falling on the upper are thus conducted to the under 



Fig. 106. — Trifolium repens. End of creeping shoot, s, stem ; 

 stalk ; Ji, very young llower-head. Nat. size. 



, stipule ; p, leaf- 



side. It does not, however, wet the whole surface, but 

 hangs like an hour-glass, suspended from the edges and 

 the midrib, which are wetted, and presumably absorb 

 moisture. This arrangement of the leaf explains the 

 presence of stomata or air pores on the upper surface, 

 as well as below.-' 



T. fragiferum (Strawberry Clover). — In this species 

 the. arrangement of the flower is similar to that of 

 the preceding species, but after flowering two of the 

 lobes of the calyx become much inflated, and often 

 pink, so that the whole flower-head assumes more or 



' Lundstrbm, Acta Nova Upsal. 1884-8,'). 



