148 



ANTHOTAXY, OR INFLORESCENCE. 



The name means "resembling a flower." Although it has all 

 the characters of a true head, the resemblance to a flower is 



remarkably striking, the involucre imitating a calyx, and the 

 strap-shaped (ligulate) corollas of the several flowers imitating 

 the petals of a single blossom. In some (such as Dandelion 



andtheCichory. Fig. I'M',), all 

 the flowers of the liead bear 

 these petal-like corollas; in 

 more (such as Aster, Sun- 

 Mower, and Coreopsis, Fig. 

 2-S7), only an outer circle of 

 Mowers does so: the remain- 

 der, smaller and filling the 

 centre (or (Jink), may by the 

 casual observer be taken for 



stamens and pistils, and further the deception. The rhachis 

 or receptacle of a head of this kind is commonly deprived, 

 bearing the Mowers on what then becomes the upper surface, 

 which adds to the imitation. 1 



SVCONIUM. This name, given to the Fig-fruit, should be here 

 referred to, as it is a sort of inflorescence, of the general nature 

 of a. head, but with receptacle external and flowers enclosed 



The receptacle of .-in . I ;/////,///, has heeii termed < "inuiuthinm or Phor- 

 anthium; ami its involucre, a Periphoranthium or Peridinium. The head has 

 likewise been named a Cephalanthium. 



FIG. 286. Flowering branch of Cichory, with two heads of ligulate flowers, of 

 natural size. 



FIG. 287. Vertical section of a head of flowers of a Coreopsis. 





