STEMS, BULBS AND BUDS 



37 



of plants that produce the 

 tuber type of stems. Bulbs 

 are very important in the 

 propagation of many plants. 

 The* bulb-growing industry is 

 vei'v important in the pro- 

 duction of man y orna- 

 mental plantH. 



Buds are short, dormant 

 stems bearing modified leaves 

 and are capable of developing 

 into leafy shoots (leaf buds") 

 or flowers (flower buds). Tn 

 most cases the buds are 

 formed during the growing 

 season and develop into shoots 

 or flowers the following 

 season. The outer leaves of 

 the bud are usually scale-like 

 and serve as a protective cov- 

 ering for the inner leaves or **^ 

 floral parts. These outer 

 scales vary greatly in differ- 

 ent plants, in some cases 

 being very smooth with a ■ 

 varnish-like covering, in 

 other cases with a gum-like 

 covering, and in still other 

 cases with a hairy covering. 

 The protection is not directly fig. 14.— The cuim or 



grass type of stem. 



