THE ARRANGSEMENT OF BRANCHES. 



25 



plained (55), they are named Axillary Buds. (See Fig. 52, 53.) These buds 

 grow into branches, just as the first or terminal bud of the seedling grows to make 

 the main stem. 



59. The Arrangement of Branches, therefore, follows that of the axillary buds, and 

 this that of the leaves. 



Now leaves are placed 

 on the stem in two 

 principal ways ; they 

 are either alternate or 

 opposite. They are al- 

 ternate when they fol- 

 low one after another, 

 there being only one 

 to each joint of the 

 stem, as in Morning- 

 Glory (Fig. 4, all after 

 the seed-leaves), and 

 in the Linden or Bass- 

 wood (Fig. 52), as well 

 as the greater part of 

 trees or plants. They 



are opposite when there are two leaves upon each joint of stem, as in Horsechest> 

 nut. Lilac, and Maple (Fig. 31, 53) ; one leaf in such cases being always exactly 

 on the opposite side of the stem from its fellow. Now in the axil of almost every 

 leaf of these trees a bud is soon formed, and in general plainly shows itself before 

 summer is over. In Fig. 52, a, a, a, a, are the axillary buds on a twig of Bass- 

 wood, — they are alternate, like the leaves, — and t is the terminal bud. Fig. 53, 

 a twig of Red Maple, has its axillary buds opposite, like the leaves ; and on the 

 very summit is the termitial bud. Next spring or sooner, the former grow into al- 

 ternate branches ; the latter grow into opposite branches. These branches in their 

 turn form buds in the axils of their leaves, to grow in time into a new generation 

 of similar branches, and so on, year after year. So the reason is plain why the 

 branching or spray of one tree or bush differs from that of another, each having its 

 own plan, depending upon the way the leaves are arranged on the stem. 



60. The spray (or ramification) of trees and shrubs is more noticeable in winter. 



