22 STEMS 
Ask the instructor for alcoholic specimens of Solo- 
mon’s-seal. Be careful not to injure alcoholic material in 
any way. Study it under water, and do not let it get dry. 
A portion of the stem of this plant grows underground, in 
a horizontal position. Do you find buds, leaves, scale 
leaves, or scars on the underground portion? Why call 
ita stem rather than a root? On the upper surface of the 
underground stem note several pits. What has caused 
these pits? How many are there? Is there any rela 
tion between the number of pits and the age of the stem? 
Describe and draw the last two years’ growth of the 
underground stem (1x), side view. 
Procure a medium sized potato. Is it a stem or a 
root? How is the potato attached to the rest of the 
plant? Note the pits (eyes) on the surface. How many 
are there? Where are they most numerous? (A vew 
small projection is sometimes found in each eye on the 
border, nearest the attached end of the potato. This 
projection is homologous with a leaf. Near the middle 
find a small elevation (a bud), sometimes several. Study 
the eyes under a hand lens and draw one. Make an 
outline drawing of a potato and show the distribution 
of the eyes. Put a portion of a potato containing several 
eyes in a damp chamber, set it in a warm place and 
watch the development of the buds from day to day. 
Where do the roots come out? 
Outside the laboratory study as many other stems 
and buds as you can—the onion or hyacinth, the cactus, 
the oak, the pine, the lilac, etc. Nothing need be written 
about these, but you will be expected to answer ques- 
tions concerning them. 
