WAYSIDE WEEDS. 



189 



a peduncle tlian a stem. In examining compound 

 or branched stems, it will be as well to note tbat 

 plants whicb have their leaves placed alternately, 

 as a rule, give ofiF alternate branches, and vice versd ; 



"EiQ. 87. — Portion of culm of a grass whicli is hollow or fistulous : a, leaf, which 

 at b forms a sheath for the ste u or culm ; c, knot, where the stem is divi- 

 ded by strengtheniqg partitions, a, culm split, to show at cthe tnot or 

 diaphragm. 



and having already learned that branches take, 

 their first commencement from buds in the leaf 

 axils, this is no more than we might expect.. 

 Efaving drawn your attention to the simple stem, 

 of the grasses, known as the culm, we must bid 



