OUTLINES OE EOT AN Y. 
IX 
globular or spherical, when corresponding to orbicular in a flat surface. Hound 
applies to both. 
turbinate, when shaped like a top. 
conical, when tapering upwards ; obconical, when tapering downwards, if in both 
cases a transverse section shows a circle. 
pyramidal, when tapering upwards ; obpyramidal, when tapering downwards, if 
in both cases a transverse section shows a triangle or polygon. 
fusiform, or spindle-shaped, when tapering at both ends ; cylindrical, when not 
tapering at either end, if in both cases the transverse section shows a circle, or some- 
times irrespective of the transverse shape. 
terete , when the transverse section is not angular ; trigonous, triquetrous, if the 
transverse section shows a triangle, irrespective in botli cases of longitudinal form. 
compressed, when more or less flattened laterally ; depressed, when more or less 
flattened vertically, or at any rate at the top ; obcompressed (in the achenes of Compo- 
sites), when flattened from front to back. 
articulate or jointed, if at any period of their growth (usually when fully formed 
and approaching their decay, or in the case of fruits when quite ripe) they separate, 
without tearing, into two or more pieces placed end to end. The joints where they 
separate are called articulations, each separate piece an article. The name of joint 
is, in common language, given both to the articulation and the article, but more espe- 
cially to the former. Some modern botanists, however, propose to restrict it to the 
article, giving the name of joining to the articulation. 
didymous, when slightly two-lobed, with rounded obtuse lobes. 
moniliform, or beaded, when much contracted at regular intervals, but not sepa- 
rating spontaneously into articles. 
55. In their consistence Leaves or other organs are 
fleshy, when thick and soft ; succulent is generally used in the same sense, but 
implies the presence of more juice. 
coriaceous, when firm and stiff, or very tough, of the consistence of leather. 
crustaceous, when firm and brittle. 
membranous, when thin and not stiff. 
scarious or scariose, when very thin, more or less transparent and not green, yet 
rather stiff. 
56. The terms applied botanically to the consistence of solids are those in general 
use in common language. 
57. The mode in which unexpanded leaves are disposed in the leaf-bud is called 
their vernation or prafoliation ; it varies considerably, and technical terms have been 
proposed to express some of its varieties, but it has been hitherto rarely noticed in 
descriptive botany. 
§ 6. Scales, Bracts, and Stipules. 
58. Scales ( Squamce ) are leaves very much reduced in size, usually sessile, seldom 
green or capable of performing the respiratory functions of leaves. In other words, 
they are organs resembling leaves in their position on the plant, but differing in size, 
colour, texture, and functions. They are most frequent on the stock of perennial 
plants, or at the base of annual branches, especially on the buds of future shoots, when 
they serve apparently to protect the dormant living germ from the rigour of winter. 
In the latter case they are usually short, broad, close together, and more or less imbri- 
cated, that is, overlapping each other like the tiles of a roof. It is this arrangement 
as well as their usual shape that has suggested the name of scales, borrowed from the 
scales of a fish. Imbricated scales, bracts, or leaves, are said to be squarrose, when 
their tips are pointed and very spreading or recurved. 
59. Sometimes, however, most or all the leaves of the plant are reduced to small 
scales, in which case they do not appear to perform any particular function. The 
name of scales is also given to any small broad scale-like appendages or reduced organs, 
whether in the flower or any other part of the plant. 
60. Bracts ( Bractece ) are the upper leaves of a plant in flower (either all those of 
the flowering branches, or only one or two immediately under the flower), when differ- 
