136 



WAYSIDE WEEDS. 



second great division of plants, tlie Monocotyledons 

 or BndogenSj and get again amidst gay colours and 

 handsome flowers. 



From tlie leaves and flowers whicli have hitherto 

 formed the subjects of our botanical lessons, we 

 naturally look to the stems by which both are sup- 



FiG. 86.— Catkin Blossom of common Birch. 



ported. By stems we do not mean the peduncles 

 and petioles. For we trust our readers have not 

 forgotten that these are not the main stem or axis 

 which forms the plant centre, and from which 

 flower-carrying peduncle and leaf-supporting petiole 

 alike spring. With the stem, we by consequence 



