64 COMPOUND ORGANS OF PLANTS. 



CHAPTER V. 



ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDS AND BRANCHES. 



The stem or aerial portion of the axophyte possesses exclu- 

 sively a force of lateral expansion, by means of which it 

 projects into the atmosphere numerous dilated appendages, in 

 the form of membranaceous expansions of its cells and fibres, 

 more or less flattened, and of a green color, which are termed 

 leaves. Certain definite cells of the axophyte appear to have 

 a natural tendency to this lateral growth, and, therefore, these 

 leaves are produced symmetrically at certain definite points on 

 the stem called nodes (nodris, a knot;) so called because these 

 parts of the stem are internally more solid and compact than 

 the other parts, in consequence of the vertical fibres of the 

 stem being interwoven with those which are sent off horizon- 

 tally into the leaf. These nodes are very conspicuous in the 

 bamboo, Indian corn, and all plants with hollow stems, which 

 stems, on examination, will be found to be solid at these 

 points. The naked intervals of stem between the nodes are 

 termed internodes. 



Before their expansion these leaves, together with the 

 branches on which they are borne, are enclosed in a particular 

 organ termed a bud. All branches begin and terminate in a 

 bud. A bud is, therefore, clearly an undeveloped branch. 



Now the bud, or undeveloped branch or stem, is made up of 

 a succession of these leaf-bearing points or nodes, the inter- 

 nodes between which have not been developed, so that these 

 nodes or leaf-bearing points are brought into close proximity. 



