THE STEM 27' 



the axis between the cotyledons and the real root, is: 

 very marked. 



Of the aerial stems some are strong enough tO' 

 stand erect, while others are too weak to do so. If 

 the stems of the latter kind fell down in a heap, con- 

 fined within a very small area, it would be impossible 

 for the plants to develop their organs, especially the 

 leaves, in a manner suitable to their requirements of 

 growth and life. Hence weak-stemmed plants either 

 trail along the ground or climb upon other standing 

 plants or supports, as by these means they are able: 

 to develop their leaves apart from one another, andl 

 in a manner suitable to the requirements of healthy 

 growth and life. 



The trailing stems are either procumbent, that is, 

 they run along the ground and do not root at the nodes, 

 or CREEPING, that is, they extend along the ground 

 amd root at the nodes. Puin or Basella is an example 

 of the former, and durba-ghas or Cynodon Dactylon 

 (see fig. 274) and ranga-aloo or Ipomcea Batatas of the 

 latter. Creeping stems often run along the ground 

 from one end of a field to the other, and produce erect 

 shoots at their nodes, and these latter sometimes sepa- 

 rate from the creeping stems, start an independent 

 life of their own, and develop creeping stems for them- 

 selves. Such creeping stems are called runners (fig. 

 25) or STOLONS, and their erect shoots offsets, as in 

 thulkuri {Hydrocotyle) and shushuni-shag: {Marsilea) 

 (see fig. 50). The runners or stolons are sometimes 

 underground, as in Cyperus rotundus and durba-ghas; 

 in fact, rhizomes are underground runners. 



"The climbing plants adopt several contrivances for 

 the purpose of raising themselves upon other plants 

 or supports, so as to spread their leaves to the sun 

 awd prevent their overcrowdingk For example, plants 



