194 



PRINCIPLES OF PLANT CULTURE 



Fig. 93. — Bulblets in axils of leaves of tiger 



my. 



under adverse conditions, and in due time to develop 

 into a plant. In these respects it resembles a seed, from 

 which it differs, however, in the less dormant condition 



of its protoplasm 

 and in not being 

 the product of sex- 

 ual fecundation 

 (341). 



352. The bulb is 

 a very short stem 

 containing a ter- 

 minal bud inclosed 

 in scales (127). 

 The scales are thickened by a store of food, and in their 

 axils are smaller lateral buds. The terminal bud usually 

 develops into a flower and then perishes. One or more 

 of the lateral buds may develop into flower-buds for the 

 next year and thus 

 continue the life of the 

 plant, as in the com- 

 mon onion (Fig. 89) ; 

 or the lateral buds 

 may develop at the 

 expense of the parent, 

 as in the potato onion. 



353. Bulblets are 

 small bulbs formed in 

 the axils of the leaves 

 in certain plants, as 

 the tiger lily {Liliun tigrinum) (Fig 

 apex of the stem, as in " top "or 

 (Fig. 94). 



354. The corm (Fig. 95) differs from the bulb chiefly 



Fig. 94. — Bulb- 

 lets of "top" 

 onion, some- 

 times used as 

 onion "sets." 



Fig. 95. — Corm of 

 crocus, with small 

 corms (buds) for 

 following year. 



93), or at the 

 bulb-bearing onion 



