INTRODUCTION TO BOTANY. ix 
partial are also applied to involucres (64) when similarly situated. The 
word dracteole is sometimes given to the uppermost bracts, when much 
smaller or very different from the lower ones. 
§ 8. Inflorescence. 
57. The Inflorescence of a plant is the arrangement of the flowering 
branches, and of the flowers upon them. An inflorescence is a flowering 
branch, or the flowering summit of a plant above the las¢stem-leaves, with 
its branches, bracts, and flowers. 
58. A flower or an inflorescence is terminal when at the summit of a 
stem or leafy branch ; axillary, when in the axil of a lateral leaf, 
59. A peduncle, or flowerstalk, is the stalk either of a solitary flower or 
of an inflorescence; in the latter case it may be either simple or branched. 
A pedicel is the ultimate branchlet of an inflorescence, supporting a single 
flower. 
60. A scape is a pedunele that proceeds from the rootstock, or from so 
near the base of the stem as to appear radical, provided always that it 
bears no leaves at all, or that the leaves are reduced to mere scales or 
bracts. 
61. The inflorescence is centrifugal, when the terminal flower opens 
first, and those on the lateral branches are successively developed ; cencri- 
petal, when the lowest flowers open first and the main stem continues to 
lengthen, developing fresh flowers. Both these kinds of inflorescence may 
be combined on the same plant; the main branches may be centripetal, 
and the flowers on the lateral branches centrifugal, or vice versd. 
62. An Inflorescence is, 
a Spike, or spicate, when the flowers are sessile along a single un- 
branched axis, called the rachis. Catkin is the name given to 
the spicate inflorescence of several trees whose flowers are 
reduced to scaly bracts or are very imperfect ; as in the Oak, 
Willow, etc. Spadix is a fleshy spike round which is rolled a 
single large bract, or spathe, as in the Arum plant (Richardia 
4thiopica). The inflorescence of a Palm is usually a branching 
spadix. ; 
a Raceme, or racemose, when the flowers are borne on pedicels along 
a single unbranched axis, also often called the rachis. 
a Panicle, or paniculate, when the axis is divided into branches, 
each bearing two or more flowers. 
a Head, or capitate, when several sessile or subsessile flowers are 
collected into a compact, head-lke cluster. The short, flat, or 
conical axis on which the flowers of a head, or capitulwm, are 
seated, is called the receptacle—a term also given to the torws or 
thalamium of a single flower. 
an Umbel, or wmbellate, when several branches or pedicels spring 
from the same (apparent) point, ¢.e. from an axis reduced to a 
point. (It is essentially the same as a raceme with the axis sup- 
pressed ; or as a head, with long-stalked flowers.) An wmndbelis 
said to be simple, when each of its branches or rays supports a 
single flower; compound, when each ray supports a partial 
umbel, or wnbellule. 
a Corymb, or corymbose, when the branches or pedicels starting from 
several points on a short, but not suppressed axis, all attain 
nearly the same level. It is a flat-topped or fastigiate panicle 
or short raceme. 
a Cyme, or cymose inflorescence, is a centrifugal panicle, and is fre- 
quently corymbose. The terminal flower opens first. The 
