XX1Y 
INTRODUCTION. 
gal inflorescence results ; in which the central flower necessarily expands 
first, the central ones of each branch next, and then the lateral ones. 
These may in turn develop each a lateral pair of flowers, and so on. 
This mode of inflorescence is also termed cijmose; a Cyme being the gen¬ 
eral name for a flower-cluster of the kind, whether simple or compound. 
121. Sometimes this evolution is gradual, the successive branches shoot¬ 
ing forth after the expansion of the primary flower, so that the whole pro¬ 
cess may be directly traced, as in many Chickweeds (p. 62) : on the other 
hand, all the numerous flower-buds of a compound cyme are frequently 
fully formed before any of them open, as in the Laurestinus and other Vi¬ 
burnums (p. 174), the Elder (p. 173), &c. 
122. A contracted cyme, with the flowers nearly sessile, is called a Fas¬ 
cicle, or if much crowded, like a head (from which it is at once distin¬ 
guished by the central flowers being the first to open), it is named a 
Glomerule. 
123. The regularity and symmetry of the cyme are often interfered with 
by the non-evolution of some of the flowers; thus becoming one-sided, 
and sometimes closely imitating some form of centripetal inflorescence. 
The most ambiguous cases of the kind occur in some alternate-leaved 
plants, such as Stone-crops (p. 146), where the whole cyme, or its branch¬ 
es (from the continued evolution of the branch on one side only), would 
always be mistaken foiva raceme, were it not that the apparently lateral 
flowers are not in the axils of the bracts, but on the opposite side of the 
axis, or nearly so, thus showing that they are terminal. 
124. The case of a whole flower-cluster borne on a peduncle opposite a 
leaf, as in the Grape and entire Vine Family (p. 85) and in the Poke (p. 
385), is evidently of the same sort: that is, an originally terminal peduncle 
becomes lateral by the production of a branch from the axil of the leaf be¬ 
low ; this branch assuming the direction of the main stem so as to con¬ 
tinue it, turning the terminal peduncle to one side. The tendril of the 
Vine occupies the same position, and becomes lateral in the same way. 
125. The centripetal and centrifugal modes of evolution are sometimes 
combined in the same plant. Thus, the heads of all Compositae (p. 184) 
open their flowers cen tripe tally, while the heads themselves are developed 
more or less regularly in the centrifugal mode. The reverse is seen in the 
Mint Family (p. 313), where the stems elongate indefinitely by the terminal 
bud, developing axillary clusters in the centripetal mode, but the clusters 
themselves are cymes, expanding their flowers centrifugally. The leaves 
being opposite, the pair of contracted small cymes (or cymules) when ses¬ 
sile forms an apparent whorl (Verticillaster). But truly whorled 
flowers only occur when the leaves are whorled, as in Hippuris (p. 140). 
126. A peduncle which rises from beneath or near the surface of the soil 
is called a Scape. 
8. Tlie Flower. 
* Its Component Parts, Structure, & c. 
127. The Flower consists of two kinds of organs, viz.: — 1st, the leaves 
of the blossom, or floral envelopes ; and 2nd, the essential organs, 
inclosed and protected by the former in the bud, and which ordinarily bear 
no resemblance to leaves. All the parts are arranged on a short axis (the 
Receptacle or Torus), like leaves on a branch, usually in successive 
whorls. The flower is therefore a sort of branch, with the internodes very 
much shortened and inconspicuous. 
128. A complete flower is furnished with two sets of floral envelopes, 
viz. an outer (the Calyx), and an inner (the Corolla), and with two kinds 
of essential organs, of which the outer are the Stamens, and the inner or 
central the Pistils. 
