CHE REFERENCE LIBRARY - ZetaTalk

CHAPTERIVPROPAGATION BY MEANS OF LAYERS AND RUNNERSM,~NY plants habitua811y propagate by means of decumbentshoots and runners. These shoots become more or less coveredwith earth or leaves, and roots are formed, usually at the joints.In many cases, t.he old shoots die away and an entirely inde-FIG. 5%A runner of strawberry.pendent plant arises from each fascicle of roots. in otherplants, the shoots remain attached to the parent, at least fora number of years, so that the plant comprises a colony ofessentially independent but connected individuals.Certain definitions should be clearly understood before weproceed with the discussion. A runner is a shoot t.hat trailson the ground, taking root at intervals ; the strawberry producestrue runners (Fig. 58). Sometimes the runner is coveredby the accumulating surface mold (Fig. 59). A root may sometimesact as a runner. A stoblz is a decumbent or loppingshoot which, without artificial aid, takes root and forms anindependent plant. It usually starts more or less erect andbends over to the ground as it grows. The honeysuckles, some69