Page:An introduction to physiological and systematical botany (1st edition).djvu/248

This page has been validated.

218

CHAPTER XVII.

OF THE SEVERAL KINDS OF FULCRA, OR APPENDAGES TO A PLANT.


The word Fulcrum, whose proper meaning is a prop or support, has been applied by Linnæus not only to those organs of vegetables correctly so denominated, such as tendrils, but also to various other appendages to the herbage of a plant, none of which are universal, or essential, nor is there any one plant furnished with them all. I prefer the English term Appendages for these organs in general, to Props, because the latter applies only to one of them. Seven kinds of these are distinguished by Linnaeus, nor do I find it necessary to enlarge that number.

1. Stipula. The Stipula, a leafy appendage to the proper leaves or to their footstalks.