Page:An introduction to physiological and systematical botany (1st edition).djvu/142

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
112
OF THE ROOT,

roots. The strict affinity between bulbs and buds appears from the scaly buds formed on the stem of the Orange Lily, Lilium bulbiferum, which fall to the ground, and, throwing out fibres from their base, become bulbous roots[1]. The same thing happens in Dentaria bulbifera, Engl. Bot. t. 309, and Saxifraga cernua, t. 664.

These two last-mentioned plants however have scaly roots, like the Toothwort, Lathræa Squamaria, t. 50, which seem bulbs lengthened out. Whether they would, in the torpid season of the year, bear removal, like bulbs, we have no information. If disturbed at other times they are immediately killed. Many plants with solid bulbs are provided by Nature to inhabit sandy countries, over the face of which, in the dry season succeeding their flowering they are scattered by the winds to a great distance, as happens to our own Poa bulbosa, Engl.

  1. I have had scaly buds form even on the flowerstalk of Lachenalia tricolor, Curt. Mag. t. 82, whilst lying for many weeks between papers to dry, which, on being put into the ground, have become perfect plants, though of slow growth.