=776. Vines and climbers.=—Some of the most extensive mosaic
patterns are shown in creeping and climbing vines. A very common
example is that of the ivies trained on the walls of buildings,
covering in some instances many square yards of surface. Where the
vines trail over the ground or clamber over other vegetation, it is
interesting to observe the various patterns, and the distortion of
petioles brought about by turning of the leaves. Of examples found in
greenhouses, the Pellonia is excellent, and the trailing ribbon-grass
often forms loose mosaics.
=777. Branch patterns.=—These patterns are very common. They
are often formed in the woods on the ends of branches by the leaves
adjusting themselves so as to largely avoid shading each other. Figure
443 illustrates one of them from a maple branch. It is interesting to
note the way in which the leaves fit themselves in the pattern, how in
some the petioles have elongated, while others have remained short. Of
course, it should be understood that the pattern is made during the
growth of the leaves.
[Illustration: Fig. 443. Spray of leaves of striped maple, showing
different lengths of leafstalks.]
[Illustration: Fig. 444. Cedar of Lebanon, strong light only from one
side of tree (Syria).]
=778. The tree pattern.=—Mosaics are often formed by the exterior
foliage on a tree, though they are rarely so regular as some of those
mentioned above. Still it is common to see in some trees with drooping
limbs like the elm, beautiful and large mosaics. The weeping elm
sometimes forms a very close and quite even pattern over the entire
outer surface. In most trees the leaf arrangement is not such as to
form large patterns, but is more or less open. While the conifers do
not form mosaics there are many interesting examples of grouping of
foliage on branch systems into broadly expanded areas, as seen in the
branches of white pine trees, especially in the edge of a wood, or as
seen in the arbor-vitæ.
OTHER PATTERNS.
=779. Imbricate pattern of short stems.=—This pattern is quite
common, and differs from the rosette in that the leaves are distributed
further apart on the stem so that the central ones are considerably
higher up than in the mosaic. The lower petioles are longer, as in
the rosette, so that the outer lower leaves extend further out. Some
begonias show fine imbricate patterns.
[Illustration: Fig. 445. Imbricate pattern of leaves; Begonia.]
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