THE FLOWERING PLANT. 51 



of the stalk there is no leaflet, but instead a curious 

 thread-like body (Fig. 40), which in some beans grows 

 very, long and helps them to climb. This thread is 

 called a tendril, or holder. At the base of the leaf- 

 stalk, at each side, is a leaf -like part called a stipule 

 (Fig. 40). The two stipules protect the leaf -bud before 

 it opens. They usually wither away and look like 

 straws, hence their name ; but in the pea they are very 

 large, much larger than the leaflets. If you look on 



Fig. 41. 



- Mouth, or Stomate. 



Epideemis. 



» 



Soft Cells, or 



Paeenchyma. 

 Slice of Leaf undee Miceoscope. 



the under side of the leaflets, you will see a central 

 ridge much larger than the others, and this is called the 

 midrib, or backbone, of the leaf. The branches going 

 off from its sides are called veins, and these and the 



