Stem.
Parts.— n, Node, part to which the leaf is fastened.
i, Internode, portion between nodes.
a, Axil, the angle between leaf and stem, upper side.
Class.—Exogenous, outside-growing (Maple, Elm).
Endogenous, inside-growing (Corn-stalk, Timothy).
Situation.—(1.) Above ground, usually leaf-bearing.
(2.) Under ground, scale-bearing.
Stems above Ground.
Character.—Herbaceous, soft, not woody (Four-o’clock).
Suffrutescent, slightly shrubby (Toad-flax).
Suffruticous, shrubby at base (Trailing Arbutus).
Fruticous, shrubby (Currant-bushes).
Arborescent, tree-like (Flowering Dogwood).
Arboreous, tree (Elm).
Direction of Growth.—Repent, prostrate and rooting from the under surface (Partridge-berry).
Procumbent, prostrate, but not rooting (Purslane).
Decumbent, prostrate, except at the extremity (Poor Man’s Weather-glass).
Assurgent, ascending obliquely.
Erect, upright (Indian Corn).
Scandent, climbing with tendrils or rootlets (Grape, English Ivy).
Voluble, twining (Morning-glory).
Declinate, declined or bent downwards (Blackberry).
Diffuse, loosely-spreading (Red Currant).
Forms of Branches.—Sucker, a branch of subterranean origin that finally rises out of the ground. The Raspberry multiplies in this way.
Offset, a short, prostrate-rooting branch with a tuft of leaves at the end (Houseleek).
Runner, a long, prostrate-rooting branch with tuft of leaves (Strawberry).
Stolon, a branch that curves downward and takes root. The Currant multiplies in this way.
Tendril, a thread-like coiling branch used for climbing.
Spine or Thorn, a hard, sharp-pointed branch.
Stems under Ground.
Kinds.—Rhizoma or Rootstock, a perennial, horizontal stem, partially or wholly subterranean (Calamus).
Tuber, an enlarged stem with eyes (White-potato).
Bulb, a bud, usually subterranean with fleshy scales (Onion, Lily).
Corm, a solid bulb (Indian Turnip).