THE STEM OF PLANTS. 29 
the bulb of a hyacinth or lily longitudinally ; it will be observed : 
that it is composed of a fleshy surface, more or less conical in the 
upper part, and truncated below, constituting a short stem, with 
internodes or knots placed very close together. This surface gives 
rise, at its upper face, to fleshy scales, which are modified leaves 
pressing one against the other, and to a central bud formed of 
leaves and rudimentary flowers, whilst from its lower face spring 
the root-fibres. In the Hyacinth (Figs. 33 and 34) the scales form 
Fig. 29.—Solomon’s Seal. 
complete sheaths, which grow one over and round the other, and 
its bulb is tunicated. In the Lily (Figs, 35 and 36), the scales are 
smaller, and overlap one another like the tiles on a roof of a house ; 
its bulb is scaly. In the Crocus (Figs. 37 and 38) the base of the 
stem is extremely broad, of a globular or depressed shape, and 
only produces a few thin and membranous scales ; its bulb is said 
to be solid and superposed, several stems rising out of its upper 
surface. 
The rhizome and the dulb are only distinguished from each 
