“The wild gooseberry growing close beside it is also armed with prickles. But the prickles of the gooseberry are for protecting its tender leaves. It is not a climbing plant like the rose and bramble. The raspberry also is covered with many sharp little prickles. There is a clump of these plants growing at the other side of the road. Let us cut off a small branch of each of these plants and take them home.”
Armed Plants.
1. Thistle. 2. Blackberry. 3. Whin. 4. Barberry. 5. Raspberry. 6. Sloe. 7. Buttercup.
“This is the most prickly plant of all,” said Frank, as he halted before a huge thistle. “You can scarcely touch it without getting severely pricked.”
“The thistle is well armed,” said Uncle George. “There are sharp prickles on its leaves, on its stem, and on its flowers.”
As they walked down the road they came upon a mass of whin bushes.
“Here,” said Uncle George, “we have a plant which has turned its leaves into sharp spines.” He bent down and pulled up a tiny plant which was growing under the larger gorse bushes. “Look at this little plant, boys. This is a young whin plant.”
“But it is not a bit like the whin, Uncle George,” said Tom. “Its leaves are soft and flat. They are more like clover leaves. There are no spines or prickles on this little plant.”
“That is so, Tom; but still it is a young whin plant.