164 INFLORESCENCE. 



1. The UMBEL Fig. 62. — The umbel is a mode of 

 flowering in which a number of flower-stalks issuing 

 from a common centre diverge like the rays of an 

 umbrella, bearing their flowers on the summit, and 

 raising them about the same height. The Carrot, 

 Parsnip, and Hemlock, are familiar examples, which 

 with all other plants affecting this mode of inflorescence 

 are denominated umbelliferous or umbellate. 



If the rays of the umbel are undivided so that each 

 individual ray supports but a single flower, as in the 

 Silkweeds Asclepias, the umbel is said to be simple, 

 but if the rays of the primary umbel are themselves 

 subdivided, so as to form and support secondary umbels, 

 as in the preceding examples, the umbel is then said 

 to be compound."* 



2. CYME. Fig. 63 — The flowers of the cyme are 

 supported on peduncles, which issue from the common 

 centre and rise to the same height ; the intermediate 

 subdivisions being irregular. The Elder, Snow-ball and 

 other species of Viburnum present familiar examples 

 of the cyme. 



3. CORYMB. Fig. 64. — In the preceding varieties 

 of inflorescence, the flower stalks proceed from the 

 same point, in which particular they differ from the 

 corymb. The flower-stalks of the latter arise from 

 the sides of a common stem, being proportionably 

 shorter as they originate near its extremity, so that its 

 flowers are finally disponed on a level with each other. 

 It is easy for the student who has the examples before 

 him, to become acquainted with these varieties, by 

 observing wherein they differ, and how they corres- 

 pond with each other, by observing theilower-stalks 



* Keith- 



