294 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
Stalks are either fimple, or compound. 
yi P>mple /lalk grows from the root to 
the top, as the fun-flower ; and is diftinguifli- 
cd by its either being naked, leafy, upright 
(as the lark’s-fpur ), oblique, twining, pli- 
ant, reclining, lying on the ground (as the 
nafturtium), creeping (as the Panfy), having 
roots as long as itfelf ; living feveral 
years, or . only one year ; being woody, 
Ihrubby, cylindrical in form (as the ftar- 
flowcr) ; having two, three, or more an- 
gles ; and being ftrcaked, furrowed, or 
channeled, fmooth, rough (as the after), 
hairy, or prickly (as the rofe). 
A branching Jlalk is one that ftioots late- 
ral branches, as it afcends, as the wall-flow- 
ers ; and is diftinguilhed by the branches 
being either irregular, large, numerous (as 
the piony), fupported, prolific in leaves, 
fruit, or flowers (as the Jily of the valey, 
and the jonquil). 
A compound Jialk is one foon divided 
into branches, as the flower of ParnaflTus ; 
and is diftinguilhed by being either forked, 
having two ranges of branches, or having 
thefe ranges fubdivided j tubular like a 
ftraw ; being entire, branched, uniform, 
jointed (as a pink), fcaly, or with or with- 
out leaves. 
3. FUL- 
