Part 15

AUTUMN IN THE WOODS

The Alder in Autumn 333

The Ash in Autumn 336

The Maple in Fruit 337

The Wayfaring Tree in Fruit 338

The Strawberry Tree 339

PARASITIC PLANTS

The Greater Dodder 342

The Clover Dodder 343

The Great Broomrape 345

The Mistletoe 347

A Young Mistletoe Plant 348

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS

The Greater Bladder-wort 351

Longitudinal section through the leaf of the Toothwort 352

The Common Butterwort 353

The Round-leaved Sundew 355

FIELD

AND

WOODLAND PLANTS

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL CHARACTERS OF PLANTS AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF FLOWERS

The beginner will often find it difficult, and sometimes quite impossible, to identify some of the flowers seen or gathered during a country ramble; and he will hardly be surprised to experience many disappointments in his attempts to do this when he realises the large number of species among our flowering plants, and the very close resemblance that allied species frequently bear to one another. But there are right and wrong methods of setting to work for the purpose of determining the identity of a plant, and the object of this chapter is to put the beginner on the right track. He must remember, however, that the aid given here is intended to assist him principally in the identification of the commoner species, though it may, at the same time, help him to determine the natural affinities or relationships of other flowers that fall in his way.

The directions we are about to give the reader regarding this portion of his work will be understood by him only if he is fairly well acquainted with the general characters of a flowering plant and with the structure of flowers; and as it would hardly be advisable to assume such knowledge, we shall give a brief outline of this part of the subject, dealing only with those points that are essential to our purpose, and explaining the meaning of those terms which are commonly employed in the description of plants and their flowers.

THE ROOT

The root is that portion of the plant which descends into the soil for the absorption of the mineral food required. It really serves a double purpose, for, in addition to the function just mentioned, it fixes the plant in its place, thus forming a basis of support for the stem and its appendages.

Roots are capable of absorbing liquids only, and all fertile soils contain more or less soluble mineral matter which is dissolved by the moisture present. This matter is absorbed mainly by the minute root-hairs--outgrowths of the superficial cells--which are to be found on the rootlets or small branches that are given off from the main descending axis.

The principal forms of roots occurring in our flowering plants are:--