1. Snowdrop. 2. Tulip. 3. Narcissus. 4. Crocus.
When Frank had done so, it was seen that these leaves were attached in layers all round the corm. The corm was now a white, rounded lump. The removal of the scale-leaves had left thin rings of leaf-marks; and on these leaf-marks, here and there a tiny bud was seen.
“Now,” said Uncle George, “we can see that a corm is a stout, swollen, underground stem. If you could imagine a horse-chestnut stem to be squeezed up into a lump, you would have something like a corm. These rings of leaf-marks are the nodes, where leaves and buds are found on all stems. The large buds on the top of the corm correspond to the large buds at the end of your horse-chestnut stem. Now, let us take off one of these large top buds. Notice that it is covered with many tough, protective scale-leaves.”
Crocus Bud Dissected.
1. Scales. 2, 3, 4. Parts of Flower. 5. Leaves. 6. Spathe. 7. Ovary. 8. Young Corm. A. Old Corm.
Removing these scales, Uncle George came to a round object in the centre.
“This,” he said, “is a long sack or bag. It contains the flower of the crocus.”
Taking a needle, he carefully opened this up.
“Now, boys,” he said, “take your magnifiers and look carefully.”