ROSACEA. 359 



the fruit is matured. Runners may branch. New branches 

 from the main perennial stem appear, of course, above the 

 old ones, hence there is a tendency for the short stem to 

 become more and more exposed above the ground surface. 

 Roots do not extend over a depth of 2 feet in the soU, and 

 horizontally, scarcely beyond the area covered by the leaves. 

 Practically all roots are within the first foot of soil. 



Fig. 150. — Flowers of strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis). Above, two perfect 

 flowers; below two pistillate flowers. 



Leaves. — The leaves are alternate and arise in a tuft; the 

 petioles are usually much longer than the leaf blades, which 

 are divided into three leaflets (trifoliate); sheathing, mem- 

 brfinous, adnate stipules which increase in size as the leaf 

 grows, occur at the base of the petiole. 



Inflorescence and Flowers. — The white flowers are in 

 small racemes or corymbs on long, erect, leafless scapes 



