i5° 



HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OSS IP. 



two kinds of inflorescence, definite and indefinite, 

 may be observed on the same plant. For the inflores- 

 cence, taken as a whole, may be definite, and the 

 individual inflorescences may be indefinite, and vice 

 versd. An example of this occurs in the genus 

 Senecio, and in other genera of Composite. If a head 

 of groundsel be examined it will be noticed that the 

 aggregation of florets forming the capitula or heads, 

 taken together, have a centripetal expansion, the 

 general inflorescence being indefinite. But if the 

 expansion of the individual heads be observed, it will 

 at once become clear that the inflorescence is centri- 

 fugal, and therefore definite. Here, then, in the 

 same plant are found two distinct forms of inflores- 

 cence, hence the inflorescence is said to be mixed. 

 Another instance may be cited, that of the verticillaster 

 of Labiatse. As explained above, the partial inflores- 

 cence is definite and centrifugal ; but the general 

 inflorescence is centripetal. There are many other 

 examples of these mixed inflorescences, all of which 

 are well worthy of careful study. The names of a 

 few genera with mixed inflorescences are subjoined : 

 horse-chestnut (/Esculus), flowering-rush (Butomus), 

 Sparmannia, Veronica, &c. 



A review has now been taken of all the chief forms 

 of inflorescence, and to one or other of these nearly all 

 the inflorescences of the British orders may be referred. 

 There are, however, some irregular forms which 

 cannot be classified under any of these heads ; but 

 they are comparatively few and unimportant. A 

 noticeable form is that occurring in the butcher's 

 broom (Ruscus aadeatus). Here the flowers are 

 borne on those curiously modified stems to which the 

 name of cladodes has been applied. On taking a 

 survey of some of the natural orders, we see in how 

 many a certain marked form of inflorescence obtains. 

 For example : the prevailing form in Crucifene is the 

 raceme or corymb ; in that interesting order Caryo- 

 phyllacese, or Clovewort order, the cyme is the typical 

 mode of inflorescence, and in no order can the di- and 

 tri-chotomous cyme be studied in greater perfection. 

 In Linaceae the inflorescence is cymose, and the genus 

 Linum is peculiar in having this mode of inflorescence 

 associated with alternate leaves, not opposite, as is 

 usually the case. It is hardly necessary to refer to 

 the inflorescence of the Umbelliferae, for it is so 

 characteristic that it is impossible to mistake it. In 

 Rubiacece (the Madder family) the flowers are often 

 arranged in sessile or peduncled cymes. The in- 

 florescence of Compositse has been already explained 

 — as affording an instance of a union of the two great 

 types. The cyme is again seen in great perfection in 

 Gentianete — the Gentian order — and the beautiful little 

 flowers and delicate trichotomous cymes of the Centaury 

 (Erythma Centaurea, fig. 122) must be familiar to 

 all. It is not necessary to describe the inflorescence of 

 the Labiatse, as it has already been referred to. 

 Other orders worthy of notice are Primulaceje, 

 Lentibulariaceae (containing the curious genus Utri- 



cularia, supposed to be carnivorous) Plantaginacese, 

 Urticacese, etc. A study of inflorescence in these 

 and kindred orders, is of the highest interest and 

 importance, giving not only enlarged and comprehen- 

 sive views of the different flower-arrangements ob- 

 taining in the different groups, but also training the 

 mind to exact and precise methods of observation and 

 comparison. And the writer has endeavoured, by 

 drawing attention to this subject, to point out to all 

 lovers of nature in general and of flowers in particular, 

 how far preferable it is to start from the very first in 

 a truly scientific and accurate spirit of enquiry. For 

 in this single instance of flower-arrangement, an im- 

 mense amount of mischief has been wrought to true 

 botany by the ambiguous, loose, and inaccurate use 

 of such terms as raceme, thyrsus, panicle, &c, so 

 that since the time of MM. Roper and Bravais (to 

 whom the first accurate observations of flower-ar- 

 rangement are due) an immense vocabulary, totally 

 meaningless and useless, has arisen on the subject of 

 inflorescence. The writer hopes that some readers 

 of Science-Gossip at all events will turn their 

 attention to this most interesting subject, the study of 

 which, in an intelligent and comprehensive manner 

 must be attended with the best results. 



THE NEW FOREST. 

 By E. D. Marquand. 



{Continued from p. 125.] 



AND now as to the flora of the New Forest. In 

 richness and variety it yields to no other spot 

 of equal area in the kingdom, though it is possible 

 that a few specially-favoured localities may slightly 

 exceed it in the number of species. Within the limits 

 defined at the outset of this paper, I have found and 

 catalogued very close upon seven hundred and fifty 

 phanerogams ; besides these there are several which 

 I know on excellent authority to exist, but have not 

 as yet come upon them— and not to speak of those 

 given in books as occurring, but which have not been 

 traced, we have a total which does not fall far short 

 of eight hundred ; that is, one half of the entire 

 British flora as enumerated in the "London Catalogue." 

 This is a goodly number for a district something 

 under fifteen miles square. 



Some of the rarer and most interesting species 

 which have come under my observation deserve a 

 passing note, and it will facilitate reference and at 

 the same time be more methodical, to follow the 

 order adopted in the " London Catalogue." 



Number 1 first calls for notice : Clematis Vitalba, 

 a plant common enough on the chalk, but one would 

 scarcely expect to find it here, yet it flourishes in the 

 hedges of a lane on the coast, a few miles from 

 Lymington. Among the Crucifene only two need be 

 mentioned : Diplotaxis muralis and Draba vema ; 

 the latter (usually so abundant) being exceedingly 



