Outlines of Lessons in Botany, Part I; from Seed to Leaf by Jane H. Newell
page 72 of 105 (68%)
page 72 of 105 (68%)
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_b_, bud-scar; _c_, flower-scar.]
[Illustration: FIG. 19.--Branch of Red Maple in winter state (reduced). 2. Flower-buds] The leaves are needle-shaped and short.[1] They are arranged densely on the branches, alternately on the 8/21 plan (see section on phyllotaxy). When they drop off they leave a hard, blunt projection which makes the stem very rough. As the terminal bud always develops unless injured, the tree is excurrent, forming a straight trunk, throwing out branches on every side. The axillary buds develop near the ends of the branchlets, forming apparent whorls of branches around the trunk. In the smaller branches, as the tree grows older, the tendency is for only two buds to develop nearly opposite each other, forming a symmetrical branch. [Footnote 1: The pupils should observe how much more crowded the leaves are than in the other trees they have studied. The leaves being smaller, it is necessary to have more of them. Large-leaved trees have longer internodes than those with small leaves.] The bud-scales are persistent on the branches and the growth from year to year can be traced a long way back. The cones hang on the ends of the upper branches. They are much larger than in our native species of Black and White Spruce. The Evergreens are a very interesting study and an excellent exercise in morphology for the older scholars. |
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