40 FORMAL INFLORESCENCE [CH. IV 



or less similar level, is regarded as a corymb, and so on ; 

 and the morphological aspect, according to which the mere 

 form is further analysed, by examination of the mode and 

 sequence of branching, the order of opening of the flowers, 

 the position of the bracts. &c., to determine whether it is 

 racemose indefinite, centripetal, acropetal, monopodial, 

 &c. or cymose definite, centrifugal, sympodial, &c. 

 in development. 



For purely descriptive work in the field, the formal 

 aspect often suffices; but it is obvious that the morpho- 

 logical aspect leads to greater accuracy, and it is sometimes 

 of great importance. It is, however, often a difficult task 

 to thoroughly analyse and define cymose inflorescences, 

 and it may be worth while to note that in the cases here 

 concerned, the dichasial type prevails, and may usually 

 be detected at the ultimate ramifications of cymose and 

 mixed inflorescences. 



