34 PLANTS: THEIR NATURAL GROWTH 



Mallow (Malva moschaia, fig. 85)— a stipulate plant— the stipules are very small and linear, 

 altogether unlike the leaves of the plant. In the Water Avens (Geum rivale, fig. 179), the 

 stipules are small, but of very similar character to the foliage ; while in the Viola cornuta, the 

 stipules are very large and foliaceous. In the Red-berried or White Bryony (fig. 90) the tendrils 

 are considered to be stipulary in character. Other very good examples of stipulate leaves, though 

 not herein illustrated, will be seen in those of the Hawthorn or Wild-rose, the former especially 

 being particularly rich in form. Stipules, though but features of secondary value to the orna- 

 mentist, will often be found of service, as, by their judicious introduction, the point where a leaf is 

 thrown off from the stalk can, be considerably enriched : a very desirable result very frequently, the 

 mere divergence of two lines if the point of departure be unclothed, having often a bald and poor 

 effect; thus, in' our design based on the Thistle (fig. 115), it will be noticed that we have been 

 careful to clothe the various junctions with foliage. This principle will be observed in the best 

 Greek and mediaeval work; but it must not be carried to excess, the eye must feel that the continuity 

 of the lines is duly provided for, and the main curves must receive due emphasis : overloading 

 them is as much an error of judgment as the exhibition of meagreness, 



PLATE 20. 



*' No tree in all the grove but has its charms, 

 Though each its hue peculiar : paler some 

 And of a warmish grey ; the Willow such, 

 And Poplar, that with silver lines his leaf, 

 And Ash, far-stretching his umbrageous arm 3 

 Of deeper green the Elm ; and deeper still, 

 Lord of the woods, the long-surviving Oak, 

 Some glossy-leaved and shining in the sun, 

 Novy green, now tawny, and ere Autumn yet 

 Has changed the woods, in scarlet honours bright." — Cowper. 



In the introduction of any plant into a design, care must be taken, not only that it is a 

 plant appropriate in scale to the space to be filled, but also that the parts of the plant that are intro- 

 duced bear a due proportion to each other, so as to ensure a due balance of colour and form. 

 Hence many plants, while presenting numerous features of interest, cannot, as a whole, be 

 introduced into any decorative scheme with just ornamental effect ; some, like the Comfrey 

 (Symphytum officinale), having the flowers too small for the large masses of foliage : while in 

 others the reverse is seen. At other times, owing to the studied simplicity of a design, the leaf 

 forms, or those of the flowers, are alone introduced ; while, again, the same result may follow from 

 a desire to lessen expense by the introduction of as few colours as possible. It is in all these cases 

 quite legitimate to avail ourselves to the full of any portions of a plant that thus seem best fitted 

 for our purpose, or to discard those that, for some sufficient reason, are not suited to our require- 

 ments. Examples of designs based on leaf forms alone will be seen in figs. 157, 161, 162, 180, 

 188, 206, 207, 220, 232, 240, 257, 264, 284, 304, 309, 318, 319, 320, 322, 324, 337, 340, 346, 348; 

 while other examples, based on floral forms alone, will be found in figs. 80, 84, 218, 269, 298, 313, 

 and the centre of 344. The patera-form, so characteristic of classic art, in most cases is evidently 

 suggested by a fully opened flower, though in some few cases it appears to be rather a rosette of 

 leaves. A delicate powdering of stellate forms will often produce a very rich effect. Very 

 suggestive star-like forms will be found scattered throughout the plates — figs. 23, 26, 29, 39, 79, 

 III, 134, 150, 186, 193, 276, and 305, being especially good ; in many cases it is the only way 

 that a beautiful natural form can be employed : an isolated flower of the Elder, for example 

 (fig. 26'), would be admirably adapted as the unit of repetition in such a design, while it would be 

 impossible to produce any satisfactory result if an attempt were made to express any idea of the 

 dense head of blossom produced naturally by the plant. In the present plate we have collected 

 a number of leaves, the parts that, in all the plants from whence they are taken, are of most value 

 to the ornamentist. 



The leaf of the common Fig (Ficus Carica) shown in our 169th illustration, is of a very 

 bold and suggestive form. Figs. 325 and 326, based on somewhat similar forms, indicate how it 

 might be advantageously employed. The Fig, though originally a native of Asia, now flourishes in 

 Southern Europe, and even at times ripens . its fruit in the open air in England. It was first 

 introduced into this country by Cardinal Pole, in the year 1525, and th^e two trees which he had 

 brought over from Italy are still to be seen, or at least were very recently, in the Archiepiscopal 

 garden at Lambeth, one having a stem of twenty-one inches, and the second of twenty-eight 

 inches circumference. Figs have been employed as food and medicine from the earliest time. 



