198 



Principles of Plant Culture. 



tings (358). The bud that is to form the future plant, 

 though not having roots of its own, has been specially- 

 prepared by the parent, through an abundant food 

 supply and a partially dormant condition of the proto- 

 plasm, to maintain a separate existence, even under 

 adverse conditions, and in due time to develop into a 

 plant. In these respects it resembles a seed, from which 

 it differs, however, in the less dormant condition of its 

 protoplasm and in not being the product of sexual fec- 

 undation (341). 



352. The Bulb is a very short stem containing a ter- 

 minal bud inclosed in scales (127). The scales are 

 thickened by a store of food, and in 

 their axils are smaller lateral buds. 

 The terminal bud usually develops 

 into a flower and then perishes. One 



Fig. 86. 



Fig. 88. 



Fig. 89. 



Fig. 86. Bulb of the common onion, Allium cepa, dlyided length- 

 wise. B, bud3. 



Fig. 87. Bulb of garlic, Allium sativum. It contains several 

 smaller bulbs (cloves). 



Fig. 88. Bulb of wild lily. 



Fig. 89. The same divided lengthwise, showing buds, B. 



or more of the lateral buds may develop into flower- 

 buds for the next year and thus continue the life of 

 the plant, as in the common onion (Fig. 86) ; or the 

 lateral buds may develop at the expense of the parent, 

 as in the potato onion. 



