=Lenticels.=--On the young woody twigs of many plants (marked in
osiers, cherry, birch) there are small corky spots or elevations known
as =lenticels= (Fig. 117). They mark the location of some loose cork
cells that function as stomates, for _green shoots_, as well as leaves,
take in and discharge gases; that is, soft green twigs _function as
leaves_. Under some of these twig stomates, corky material may form
and the opening is torn and enlarged: _the lenticels are successors to
the stomates_. The stomates lie in the epidermis, but as the twig ages
the epidermis perishes and the bark becomes the external layer. _Gases
continue to pass in and out through the lenticels_, until the branch
becomes heavily covered with thick, corky bark. With the growth of the
twig, the lenticel scars enlarge lengthwise or crosswise or assume
other shapes, often becoming characteristic markings.
=Fibro-vascular Bundles.=--We have studied the fibro-vascular
bundles of stems (Chap. X). These stem bundles _continue into the
leaves, ramifying into the veins_, carrying the soil water inwards
and bringing, by diffusion, the elaborated food out through the
sieve-cells. Cut across a petiole and notice the hard spots or areas in
it; strip these parts lengthwise of the petiole: what are they?
=Fall of the Leaf.=--In most common deciduous plants, when the season’s
work for the leaf is ended, the nutritious matter may be withdrawn, and
_a layer of corky cells is completed over the surface of the stem where
the leaf is attached. The leaf soon falls._ It often falls even before
it is killed by frost. Deciduous leaves begin to show the surface line
of articulation in the early growing season. This articulation may
be observed at any time during the summer. The area of the twig once
covered by the petioles is called the =leaf-scar= after the leaf has
fallen. In Chap. XV are shown a number of leaf-scars. In the plane
tree (sycamore or buttonwood), the leaf-scar is in the form of a ring
surrounding the bud, for the bud is covered by the hollowed end of
the petiole; the leaf of sumac is similar. Examine with a hand lens
leaf-scars of several woody plants. Note the number of bundle-scars in
each leaf-scar. Sections may be cut through a leaf-scar and examined
with the microscope. Note the character of cells that cover the
leaf-scar surface.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account