10 RACEMOSE INFLORESCENCE [CH. 



advanced, in age and relative completeness, than the one 

 above it. 



In other words, the order of completion of the flowers 

 proceeds from above downwards along the mother-axis or 

 peduncle. The same is true of the bracts : each one lower 

 down is nearer its period of maturity or death than the 

 one next above it. 



Such an order of successive development, where each 

 lateral organ (here especially the flowers) on the mother- 

 axis is the younger the nearer it is to the on ward- growing 

 apex, is termed Acropetal. 



On reviewing the above, we see that a simple inflores- 

 cence of the kind described is Monopodial in virtue of the 

 fact that its principal axis is a single on-growing one ; it 

 is Indefinite in the sense that its onward growth is con- 

 tinued through a relatively long period, and not stopped 

 by the formation of a flower at the extreme apex at a 

 relatively early stage ; and it is Acropetal with respect to 

 the order of maturity of the flowers along its course, the 

 observer's eye having to pass from the base towards the 

 apex as he seeks younger and younger flowers and flower- 

 buds (Fig. 1). 



We shall see shortly that an inflorescence such as that 

 described is, as regards its particular form, termed a 

 Raceme ; whence such monopodial, acropetal, and in- 

 definite inflorescences are often termed racemose inflores- 

 cences, a useful descriptive general term for employment 

 in the field. 



Let us now suppose an opening bud to give rise to 

 an elongating shoot as before, but that the onward growth 

 is soon arrested by the formation of a terminal flower 

 (Fig. 2, A 1), while below its apex a bract is formed in the 

 axil of which a lateral branch is borne, the growth of 

 which is similarly soon arrested by its termination in a 



