ELEMENTARY BOTANY. 
IX 
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 
sometimes irrespective of the transverse shape. 
terete, when the transverse section is not angular ; trigonous, triquetrous, if the 
transverse section shows a triangle, irrespective in both 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 Com- 
posite) , 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 
especially to the former. Some modem 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, torulose, or beaded, when much contracted at regular intervals, but 
not separating 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 dry, or very tough, of the consistence of leather. 
crust aceous, when firm and brittle. 
chartaceous, or papyraceous, when of the consistence of paper. 
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 pr defoliation ; 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 ( Squamae ) 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 later case they are usually short, broad, close together, and more 
or less imbricated, 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 , bor- 
rowed 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 (. Bractce ) 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 dif- 
ferent from the stem-leaves in size, shape, colour, or arrangement. They are gene- 
rally much smaller and more sessile. They often partake of the colour of the flower, 
although they very frequently also retain the green colour of the leaves. When 
small they are often called scales. 
61. Floral leaves or leafy bracts are generally the lower bracts or the upper leaves 
at the base of the flowering branches, intermediate in size, shape, or arrangement, 
between the stem- leaves and the upper bracts. 
