114 



Plants and their IVays in South Africa 



Sow Mimosa seeds, those of the Karroothorn and Black- 

 wood, or the Port Jackson " Willow ". Watch the seeds of 

 both come up " with a loop," bringing their cotyledons with 

 them. On the first leaves note the little bristle-like stipules. 

 Can you see them on both kinds of seedlmgs ? Are the next 



P'iG. loi. — 'the lilack-woud Irees lose all trace of the coiupoiind leaves 

 they had as seedlings. 



leaves the same in each. Watch the seedlings until you find 

 how the Port Jacksons get their long narrow leaves and the 

 Mimosas get their thorns. 



AVhen petioles flatten and take the place of the usually ex- 

 panded portion of the leaves, they are called phyllodes (hav- 

 ing the form of leaves). The Mimosa and the l\irt Jackson 

 look very unlike as trees. But their early historv shows that 



