62 



ESSENTIALS OF BOTANY 



minute branches, which perform the work of leaves (Fig. 36). 

 The familiar greenhouse climber, wrongly known as smilax 

 (properly called Myrsiphyllum), bears a profusion of what 

 appear to be delicate green leaves (Fig. 37). Close study, 

 however, shows that these are really short, flattened 

 branches, and that each little branch springs from the 



Fig. 36. A Spray of a Common Asparagus (not the edible species). 



axil of a true leaf, Z, in the form of a minute scale. Some- 

 times a flower and a leaf-like branch spring from the axil 

 of the same scale. 



Branches which, like those of Myrsiphyllum, so closely 

 resemble leaves as to be almost indistinguishable from 

 them are called oladophylls. 



79. Modifiability of the Stem. — The stem may, as in the 

 tallest trees in the great lianas of South American forests 

 or the rattan of Indian jungles, reach a length of many 

 hundred feet. On the other hand, in such "stemless" 



