XIV] THEOKETICAL DIAGRAMS 133 



partial inflorescence twice natural size; and E, diagram of the same, 

 showing b the bract subtending it and the axis of the spike of which 6 

 is a scale ; a and ft bracts to right and left of the three-flowered partial 

 inflorescence (dichasium) ; a and ft' the cupule, investing the three ? flowers 

 each of which has its six-partite perigone and six-chambered ovary. F 

 and G, cases of transition between E and C, where flowers with both 

 stamens and pistil occur ; all three flowers may be 3 , or the middle 

 one ? . In all cases b is the cover-scale of the spike or catkin, in the 

 axil of which the dichasium stands; a and ft are the lateral subtending 

 bracts of the dichasium ; a' and ft' probably correspond to the bracteoles 

 of the flowers as in Fig. E, though here they form the cupule (Ei). 



We thus see that a great deal of theory can be ex- 

 pressed in these floral diagrams, as it could in the plan 

 diagrams of buds described in Volume I., in both cases 

 the additional information being derived from comparative 

 morphology and from the study of development. 



It is not necessary to give further examples here, 

 since the cases concerned will be found fully illustrated 

 in Part IT. 



