GENEEAL MOBPHOLOGY OF THE PLANT 43 



and a tuft of leaves, and thus forms an independent plant, 

 ■which is capable of producing other offsets in a like manner. 

 It is well seen in the Houseleek. This differs very httle from 

 the ordinary runner, except in being shorter, somewhat thicker, 

 and its leaves distinctly tufted. 



0. TTiB Stolon. — This is a branch which is given off abo-^e 

 the surface of the earth, but which curves downwards towards 

 it, and \yhen it reaches a moist spot it sends rootlets into the 

 ground, and a stem upwards into the air ; being thus capable of 

 acquiring food independently of its parent, it ultimately forms 

 a new individual. The Currant, Gooseberry, and other plants, 



Fig. 62. 



Fig. 63. 



Fig, 64. 



Fig. 62. Branching thorn of the Honey Locust (Gleditschia). Fig. 63. 



Thorn of the Cockspur Thorn (C'ratcec/us). Fig. 64. Leafy thorns of the 



common Sloe. 



multiply in this way. All such plants are said to be stoloniferoug. 

 Gardeners imitate this natural formation of new individuals 

 when they lay down a branch into the earth, from which a new 

 plant is ultimately formed ; this process is technically called 

 layering (fig. 55). 



d. The Sucker [figs. 56 and 57). — This is a branch which 

 arises from the stem below the surface of the earth, and which, 

 after proceeding in a horizontal direction for a certain distance, 

 and giving off little roots or rootlets in its course, turns upwards 

 into the air, and ultimately forms an independent plant. Plants 

 thus producing suckers are said to be surculose. Good examples 

 of this kind of stem are seen in the Eose, the Baspberry, and 

 the Mint. The sucker can scarcely be said to differ in any 



