55 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 
suckle, the leaves are attached to the stem in pairs and are said 
to be opposite; but in the majority of plants they are attached 
singly and we say they are alternate. These two arrangements 
give a different appearance to 
the plant. They are especially 
ARRANGEMENT OF LEAVES 
Willow twig, showing alter- — 
nate leaves. Syringa twig, WHITE SPRUCE 
showing opposite leaves. In winter. 
important in trees and shrubs, as the position of the leaves 
determines the method of branching, because a new bud 
appears in the angle or axil of each leaf. 
Evergreens and Deciduous Trees. — Most of our trees 
and shrubs drop their leaves in the autumn and new ones 
appear in the spring. We call these deciduous trees. The 
leaves of evergreens, however, last several years. New 
ones form every summer, and the oldest drop off so gradually 
that it is not noticed, and the tree remains green in winter 
as well as in summer. 
