PART I 

 THE NATURE OF PLANTS 



CHAPTER I 

 THE LEAF 



3. The Work of the Leaf. — Each plant has a character or a 

 personality of its own. What is it that gives this individuality 

 to the plant? When the work that it performs is understood it 

 will be seen that this character is very largely due to the adapta- 

 tion of the leaves to the performance of certain duties. The 



Fig. 3. Forms of leaves: A, leaf of white birch with netted veins — p, 

 petiole; b, blade. B, leaf of Solomon's seal with parallel venation and blade 

 clasping stem without petiole. 



leaves bring the plant into harmony with its surroundings and 

 give to it a subtle individuality owing to the perfection of their 

 arrangements, structures and forms for the work in hand. The 



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