“You cannot? Well, I must tell you. All plants whose leaves are all at the ground have leaves shaped something like this. The primrose and cowslip are good examples. We have seen that plants, like the pea, climb up so that their leaves and green parts may get as much light and air as possible. And if you look at any tree, such as the horse-chestnut, ash, elm, or beech, you will notice that their leaves are spread out so as to catch as much light as possible.”
Uncle George then drew a circle.
1 and 2. Diagram to show Leaf arrangement of Daisy. 3. Head of Daisy split. 4. Outer Floret. 5. Inner Floret.
“Now, boys,” he said, “I want you to try to fill that circle with leaves so shaped that they will fill it without covering one another. The best way to do so is to make them broad at the end. If you make them broad at the base and narrow at the end, they overlap and rob each other of light and air. Now you can see why the leaves of the daisy are so shaped.
“Take up a daisy and split it down the centre with your knife. You will notice that the daisy is not a flower, but a collection of tiny flowers, or florets, all packed closely together upon a pad or disc, and surrounded outside by many little green things like small leaves. These little leaf-like things are called bracts.”
London Pride, showing Leaf arrangement.
“There are two distinct kinds of florets,” said Frank, looking at the split daisy with his lens.
“Yes,” said Uncle George, “you will see them better if you remove one of each with a pin, and examine them separately.”