THE LEAF 49 



their leaves in such a position that they are least 

 interfered with by their neighbours, and their surfaces 

 get the greatest amount of exposure to light. This 

 is evident in plants in which leaves are set apart. In 

 plants in which they are closely set, the arrangement 

 shows a distinct plan, and if the leaves are projected 

 on a level surface they are found to form a singular 

 pattern called leaf-mosaic, in which the leaves. 



Fig. 50, — Leaf Mosaic — Amrul (Oxah's comiculata) 



though close-set, fit into the spaces between without 

 overlapping or covering one another. In plants, for 

 example, in which the stem trails or creeps on the 

 ground within a small area, or in plants with radical 

 leaves, the leaves are so crowded together that they 

 may be naturally expected to overlap or even com- 

 pletely cover one another; but in reality they do not 

 do so, but lie as far apart from one another as pos- 

 sible under the circumstances, forming a beautiful 

 leaf-mosaic. For illustration shushuni-shag and 

 amrul-shag (fig. 50) may be examined. In point of 

 fact, leaves do not brook the least interference with 

 their exposure to light. Look at the gigantic climbers 



( C 945 ) 5 



