62 ESSENTIALS OF BOTANY 
minute branches, which perform the work of leaves (Fig. 36). 
The familiar greenhouse climber, wrongly known as smilax 
(properly called Myrsiphylium), bears a profusion of what 
appear to be delicate green leaves (Fig. 37). Close study, 
however, shows that these are really short, flattened 
branches, and that each little branch springs from the 
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Fie. 36. A Spray of a Common Asparagus (not the edible species). 
axil of a true leaf, 7, in the form of a minute scale. Some- 
times a flower and a leaf-like branch spring from the axil 
of the same scale. ; 
Branches which, like those of Myrsiphyllum, so closely 
resemble leaves as to be almost indistinguishable from 
them are called cladophylls. 
79. Modifiability of the Stem. — The stem may, as in the 
tallest trees in the great lianas of South American forests 
or the rattan of Indian jungles, reach a length of many 
hundred feet. On the other hand, in such “stemless” 
i 
