Tree Study 



8iS 



Observations — i. How are the laurel leaves set about the blossom 

 clusters to make them beautiful? What is the shape of the laurel leaf? 

 What are its colors above and below? How do the leaves grow with 

 reference to the flowers? Do they grow on last year's or this year's wood? 

 How can you tell the new wood from the old ? 



2. Take a blossom bud. What is its shape? How many sides to the 

 pyramid-like tip ? How many little flaring ridges at the base of the pyra- 

 mid ? Describe the calyx. 



3. What is the shape of the flower when open? How many lobes has 

 it ? What is its color ? Where is it marked with red ? 



4. In the open blossom, what do you see of the ten ridges, or keels, 

 which you noticed in the bud ? How does each one of these grooves end ? 

 What does the laurel blossom keep in these ten pockets ? Touch one of the 

 ten filaments with a pencil and note what happens. 



5. Take a bud scarcely open. Where are the stamens? Can yott see 

 the anthers ? Take a blossom somewhat more open. Where are the anthers 



Mountain laurel. 

 Photo by Verne Morton. 



