Sermons in stones, and good in everything.
EXPLANATION OF TERMS
The comprehension of the flower descriptions and of the opening chapters will be facilitated by the reading of the following explanation of terms. For words or expressions other than those which are included in this section, the Index of Technical Terms at the end of the book should be consulted.
The Root of a plant is the part which grows downward into the ground and absorbs nourishment from the soil. True roots bear nothing besides root-branches or rootlets.
“The Stem is the axis of the plant, the part which bears all the other organs.” (Gray.)
A Rootstock is a creeping stem which grows beneath the surface of the earth. (See Blood-root and Solomon’s Seal. Pls. I. and X.)
A Tuber is a thickened end of a rootstock, bearing buds,—“eyes,”—on its sides. The common Potato is a familiar example of a tuber, being a portion of the stem of the potato plant.
A Corm is a short, thick, fleshy underground stem which sends off roots from its lower face. (See Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Pl. CIV.)
A Bulb is an underground stem, the main body of which consists of thickened scales, which are in reality leaves or leaf bases, as in the onion.
A Simple Stem is one which does not branch.