Ch. VII.] STEMS. 41 
Fig. 20 
148. Culm, or straw, (Fig. 20,) is the kind ot stem 
which you see ingrasses and rushes. The bam 
boo, sugar cane, and various species of reeds, have 
stems of the culm kind; some of them, particu- 
larly the bamboo, are known to attain to the 
height of forty feet. We can imagine something 
of the appearance which extensive plains of these 
lofty tropical reeds must present, gracefully 
bending to the slightest breeze, like our meadow 
grasses. 
Fig. 21. 
SA Wy i, 
SW 
149. Scape. This is a stalk 
springing from the root, which 
bears the flower and fruit, but not 
the leaves; as the Dandelion, the 
Cowslip, and the Lily of the Val- 
ley, (a a Fig. 21). Plants with 
scapes are sometimes called stem- 
less plants. 
150. Peduncle, or flower stalk. 
This is a subdivision of the princi- 
pal stem; it bears the flower and 
fruit, but not the leaves. When the peduncle is divided, each 
sub-division is called a pedicel. 
151. When there 1s no peduncle or flower stalk, the flowers 
are said to be sessile, which means sitting down upon the main 
stem. 
152. Petiole. Tne petiole or leaf-stalk, is a kind of stem, or 
fulcrum, supporting the leaf; it is usually green, and appears to 
be a part of the leaf itself. In most cases, the leaves an 
flowers are supported by distinct foot stalks, but sometimes ¢ 
toot-stalk supports both the leaf and flower. 4 
RAS Describe the eulrh. . 
149. What is a scape ? & 
150. What is a peduncle, and what is a pedicel ? 
151. When are flowers said to be sessile? 
152. ‘What is the petiole? 
4* 
