FORM AND POSITION OF THE TRANSPIEING LEAVES AND BRANCHES. 



333 



disappear, leaving no traces. Since the members which arise from the axils of 

 leaves (whether these are small clothing-scales, or large green laminas does not 

 matter) are not considered to be leaves, but shoots, the flat leaf-like structures of the 

 Butcher 's-broom are also regarded as shoots, and are named " flattened shoots " 

 (cladodes) — or, considering their similarity to leaves, " leaf -branches " (phylloclades). 



Fig. 82.— Plants -with Leat-like Branches (Cladodes). 



1 Young shoot of Rusms Hypoglosmm. 2 The same branch fully grown, with flowers on the cladodes. » Young shoot 



of jRvseus aculeatus. « The same branch with flowers on the cladodes. 



This view is strengthened materially by the fact that these leaf-like structures, m 

 their further development, and in the production of shoots, behave exactly like 

 ordinary cylindrical axes. That is to say, small scale-like leaves spring from them, 

 and from the axils of these scales arise stalked flowers (see figs. 82 ^ and 82 *) which 

 ultimately fructify. Plants possessing such phylloclades are not very numerous on 



