138 
PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 
gongylodes, etc. (5) Subterranean tuberous in which a subter¬ 
ranean stem or branch enlarges as a food-storing center: (a) annual 
type, tuber as in potato, etc., corm as in crocus, etc.; ( b ) perennial 
type, bulbs as in lily (scaly) and onion or hyacinth (tunicated). 
(6) Phylloid or leaf-like in which flattening branch expansion occurs, 
when leaves become reduced in size as in Asparagus , Ruscus, etc. 
(7) Cactoid, in which reduced condensed branches or stems become 
swollen for water (and food) storage as in Cacti, Euphorbia sp., etc. 
Above-ground Stems.—A twining stem winds around a support, 
as the stem of a beam or Morning Glory. 
A culm is a jointed stem of the Grasses and Sedges. 
A climbing or scandent stem grows upward by attaching itself 
to some support by means of aerial rootlets, tendrils or petioles. 
Examples: Ivy, Grape, etc. 
The scape is a stem rising from the ground a*nd bearing flowers 
but no leaves, as the dandelion, violet, or blood root. 
A tendril is a modification of some special organ, as of a leaf 
stipule or branch, capable of coiling spirally and used by a plant in 
climbing. Present in the Grape, Pea, etc. 
A spine or thorn is the indurated termination of a stem tapering 
to a point, as the thorns of the Honey Locust. 
Prickles are outgrowths of the epidermis and cortex and are 
seen in the roses. 
A stolon is a prostrate branch, the end of which, on coming in con¬ 
tact with the soil, takes root, so giving rise to a new plant. Exam¬ 
ples: Currant and Raspberry. 
An herbaceous stem is one which is soft in texture and readily 
broken. Example: Convallaria majalis. 
An undershrub or suffruitoose stem is a stem of small size and 
woody only at the base. Examples: Bitter-sweet, Thyme, etc. 
A shrubby or fruitcose stem is a woody stem larger than the pre¬ 
ceding and freely branching near the ground. Example: Lilac, etc. 
A trunk is the woody main stem of a tree. 
Herb and Tree 
A tree is a perennial woody plant of considerable size, attaining a 
height of 15 or more feet, and having as the above-ground parts a 
trunk and a crown of leafy branches. 
