CHAPTER VIII 
THE FULL-GROWN PLANT, ETC. (Continued) 
Il. THE STEM 
What are some of the different kinds of 
stems that you can find in the field or wood, 
in the garden or greenhouse? ‘There are 
many forms and shapes. Zhe stem of the 
sunflower is long and straight. There are 
short branches at the top where the plant 
bears a cluster of large flower heads, the 
largest one on the end of the main stem. 
Did you ever see a sunflower plant with 
only one flower head? Can you tell why 
there is only one flower head sometimes ? 
The maize plant and the bamboo are good 
examples of tall and slender stems. The 
maize tassel is a tuft of branches bearing 
the stamen flowers. The silken ear 1s 
another branch which bears the pistil 
flowers, and later the fruit. Are other 
branches of the Indian corn ever developed ? 
Wheat and oats, also, have tall and slender 
45 

FiG. 74. 
Sunflower, 
cylindrical type. 
