14 



CHAPTER IV. 



INFLORESCENCE. 



48. Inflorescentia, the Inflorescence or Mode 

 of Flowering, expresses the manner in which 

 Flowers are situated upon a plant. It is essential, 

 though of temporary duration, and comes under 

 the following denominations. 



1. Verticillus, a Whorl, when the Flowers form a 

 ring round the stem, though perhaps inserted on 

 two of its opposite sides, or even on one only. 



2. Racemus, a Cluster, consists of scattered Flow- 

 ers, each on its own proper stalk (22), connected 

 by one common stalk (20), all nearly in perfec- 

 tion tog-ether. A Cluster is sometimes com- 

 pound ; or aggregate like Acttea racemosa. 



s. Spica, a Spike, is composed of many Flowers, 

 sessile, or nearly so (21), on one common stalk, 

 sometimes branched, generally very erect ; the 

 flowers opening in succession ; sometimes unila- 

 teral (34). Spicula, a Spikelet, is the inflores- 

 cence of such Grasses, as have many florets in 

 one calyx. 



4. Corymbus, a Corymb, a kind of Cluster (48 : 2), 

 whose partial stalks are gradually longer down- 

 wards, so that the flowers they bear are nearly 



