INFLORESCENCE. 



115 



which determines the arrangement of the leaves. Accordingly, 

 the flower-bud is always found either terminal or axillary. In 

 either case, a single bud may develop either a compound inflo- 

 rescence, consisting of several flowers with their stalks and bracts, 

 or a solitary inflorescence, consisting of a single flower. 



343. The Peduncle is the flower-stalk. It bears no leaves, or 

 at least only such as are reduced in size and changed in form, 

 called bracts. If the peduncle is wanting, the flower is said to 

 be sessile. The simple peduncle bears a single flower; but if 

 the peduncle be divided into branches, it bears several flowers, 

 and the final divisions, bearing each a single flower, are called 

 pedicels. The main stem or axis of a compound peduncle is 

 called the rachis. 



344. The Scape is a flower-stalk which springs from a subter- 

 ranean stem, in such plants as are called stemless or acaulescent ; 

 as the Primrose, Tulip, Bloodroot. Like the peduncle, it is leaf- 

 less or with bracts only, and may be either simple or branched. 

 The flower-stalk, whether peduncle, scape, or pedicel, always 

 terminates in the tones ( 57). 



430 



Brartx (b, b, 1). 430, Cornus Canadensis, with an involucre of 4 colored bracts. 431, Hepatic* triloba, 

 with an involucre of 3 green bracts. 432, Calla paliistris, with a colored spathe of one bract. 



345. Bracts. The branches of the inflorescence arise from 

 the axils of reduced leaves, called bracts. Those leaves, still 

 smaller, growing upon the pedicels, are called bractlets. Bracts 

 are usually simple in outline and smaller than the leaf, often 

 gradually diminishing to mere points, as in Aster, or even totally 



