BOTANY. 



155 



ESSENTIAL ORGANS. 



BUDS. 



Organs inclosing in scales, or other ligamentary substances, 

 rudiments of a stem, of leaves, or of flowers. 



Buds properly so called. 



Organs of various form, nature and aspect, generally com- 

 posed of imbricated scales, including the rudiments of stems, 

 leaves, or organs of reproduction. They develope themselves 

 always upon the branches, at the axils of the leaves or at the 

 extremity of the twigs. 



We distinguish three kinds of buds, according to the dif- 

 ferent shoots to which they are to give birth. 1st, Leaf-buds, 

 or wood-buds, which only shoot forth branches charged with 

 leaves; they are elongated and pointed. 2d, Flower-buds, 

 which produce only flowers, and which are commonly de- 

 signated as buttons ; they are short and rounded. 3d, Mixed 

 buds, which give birth to both flowers and leaves ; their form 

 is between those of the two preceding classes. 



Turions. 



The only difference between the turion and the bud pro- 

 perly so called is that the former springs always from a 

 perennial root, or rhizoma, that is to say from under ground 

 [Asparagus], while the latter developes itself invariably upon 

 a part exposed to the air and light. 



Bulbs. 



A kind of subterranean bud appertaining especially to pe- 

 rennial monocotyledonous plants ; it is supported by a kind 

 of solid platform intermediate between it and the true root; 

 it is to this flattened tubercle that the fleshy scales or tunics 

 (coats) which form the bulb externally are affixed by their 

 basis; the interior includes the rudiments of a shaft and 

 leaves. 



We distinguish three species of bulbs: 1st, Tunicated bulbs, 

 which are formed of scales of a single piece, fitting one upon the 

 other. 2d, Scaly bulbs, the scales of which are smaller, free at 

 their upper edge, and covering each other as tiles upon a roof. 



