CHAPTER II, 



WINTER BUDS, SHOOTS, ETC. 



12. Season for study of shoots. — Either the autumn or the 

 winter is an excellent time for some observations of the winter 

 condition of plants, especially of the stems or shoots, as well as 

 the leaves. While actual growth of the parts cannot then be 

 observed, certain interesting and important peculiarities of the 

 stems and leaves can then be easily studied. The exercises are 

 also instructive for classes which have not had previous instruc- 

 tion in nature studies. 



13. Annuals, biennials, perennials.— One of the striking 

 things which we observe during the winter season is the fact that 

 certain plants, especially the herbs, like many weeds and culti- 

 vated plants, are dead and dry. Where the plant makes its 

 entire growth during the year or season, and ripens at the close, it 

 is an annual. The bean, corn, squash, the ragweed, etc., are 

 annuals. Other plants, like the thistle, mullein, etc., do not 

 mature their fruit or seed until the second year. Such plants are 

 biennials. Trees, shrubs, and many herbs as well, like the asters, 

 goldenrods, etc., live from year to year, and are therefore peren- 

 nials. In the goldenrods, in trillium, the toothwort, and other 

 perennials of this kind, the larger part of the annual growth 

 dies back at the close of the season, while the plant is carried 

 over the winter by the shorter underground stem. 



14. Annual growth of the horse-chestnut. — In figure 4 there 

 is illustrated a shoot of the horse-chestnut. Near the middle 

 portion of the shoot is a ring of numerous fine scars, and 

 another ring of similar scars near the lower end. These rings 

 of scars mark the positions of successive annual terminal buds, 



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