233 OF THE INFLORESCENCE. 



without any partial stalks, as in Sati/riinn 

 hirchuun, Engl. Bot. t. 34, Orchis blfolia, 

 t. $2, Plant ago major, t. 1.558, and me-' 

 dia, t. 10v59» Potamogeton Jicterophyllum, 

 t. 1285, and jiuiians, t. 1286 ; but this is 

 so seldom the case, that a little latitude is 

 allowed. J eronica spicata, t. 2, therefore, 

 f. 130, and lllbes spicatinu, t. 1290, as 

 well as the Common Lavender, Lavandula 

 Spica, are sufficiently good examples of a 

 spike, though none of them has entirely 

 sessile flowers ; and Linnaius uses the term 

 in numerous instances where it is still less 

 correctly applicable. A spike generally 

 <>TOws erect. Its mode of expansion is 

 much more progressive than that of the 

 raceme, so that a long period elapses be- 

 tween the fading of the lowest flowers and 

 the opening of the upper ones. The flowers 

 are commonly all crowded close together, 

 or if otherwise, they form separate groups, 

 perhaps whorls, when the spike is said to 

 be either interrupted, or whorled ; as in 

 some Mints. In Sangiiisorba officinalis 

 the spike begins flowering at the top. See 

 Capitidum below. 



