Woodhead: Notes on the Bluebell. 



83 



Linderg-oing digestion, the contents of which are absorbed by the 

 developing- root. The root Hterally eats its way out to the soil. 

 To the right of Fig. 7, a, is seen a small bulb arising in the 

 axil of a scale leaf. Even this bulb is sending out roots, which 

 are eating their way through and feeding upon the scale leaves 

 of the parent. Roots often pass obliquely upwards on their way 

 out, and emerge high above the base of the bulb. The outer 

 scale leaves eventually become deprived of their nutrient 

 materials and rapidly decay, thus the young bulbs are liberated 

 and afterwards lead an independent existence. Three or more 

 buds are often found in the bulbs all pushing their leaves up 

 together in the Spring. 



Fig. 7, a, mature bulb; b, scales removed to show sheathing- leaves; c, foliage leave? 

 emerging- from sheath; d, root tip surrounded by partly digested cells of bulb scale; 

 e, young- fi.liage leaf surrounded by single sheath. 



A longitudinal section of an elongated bulb (Fig. 4, d) shows 

 that the outer scale leaves are fused for a considerable distance, 

 consequently when buds arise in their axils, they stand at a 

 much higher level than Lhose formed in the axils of the inner 

 leaves. 



The bluebell furnishes us with an excellent example of a 

 geophyte, a plant which carries on a considerable part of its 

 activities underground. At all times of the year some work is 



1904 March i. 



