52 ELEMENTS OF BOTANY 
grow much faster than others and so make the plan of 
branching less evident than it would be if all grew alike. 
67. Alternate Branching. — In 
trees like the beech the twigs will 
and shrubs than 
the opposite ar- 
rangement. It 
admits of many 
varieties, since 
the spiral may 
wind more or 
less rapidly 
round the stem. 
In the apple, 
pear, cherry, 
poplar, oak, and 
walnut, one passes over five spaces before 
coming to a leaf which is over the first, 
and in doing this it is necessary to make 
two complete turns round the stem. 
68. Growth of the Terminal Bud. — In 
some trees the terminal bud from the 
very outset keeps the leading place, and 
the result of this mode of growth is to 
produce a slender, upright tree, with an 
Fic. 24. Opposite Branch- 
ing in a very Young Sap- 
ling of Ash. 
be found to be arranged in a more 
or less regular spiral line about the 
branch. This, which is known as 
the alternate arrangement (Fig. 25), 
is more commonly met with in trees 
Fic, 25. Alternate 
Branching in a very 
Young Apple Tree. 
excurrent trunk like that of Plate IT. In such trees as the 
apple and many oaks the terminal bud has no preéminence 
