554 THE STRUCTURE OF ECONOMIC PLANTS 



wide as long. The length in the early varieties ranges from 63>^ to 

 83^ inches, while in the larger types it may be slightly in excess 

 of li inches. In general, the leaf characters alone are of little 

 diagnostic value in separating the commercial varieties, as the 

 leaves exhibit great differences owing to variation in climate, soil 

 conditions, and cultural methods. 



The Inflorescence. — The inflorescence is usually a two- 

 ranked raceme or a branched racemose-cyme, the former type 



Fig. 2.92.. A, inflorescence showing unequal development of fruits, one flower has abscissed ; 

 B, flower with portion of perianth removed showing relation of stamens and pistil ; C, floral 

 diagram of hexamerous flower of Stone variety ; D, longisection of pistil with cauline pla- 

 centation; E, two types of hairs commonly found on calyx, pedicel, and vegetative parts. 



occurring only in the currant tomato. (Fig. i9x, A.^ Bouquet 

 (5) made a study of the inflorescences of several varieties in order to 

 determine their characteristics and the fruiting habit in each in- 

 stance under greenhouse conditions. He described three types of 

 inflorescence, which sometimes occur on the same plant : (i) simple 

 raceme; (x) dichotomous or two-forked flower clusters; and 

 (3) the polychotomous inflorescence having more than two forks 

 or branches. The simple type occurs more frequently on the lower 

 portion of the plant, and the branched types are more common on 

 the upper parts. 



