x INTRODUCTION TO BOTANY. 
lateral branches, successively developed, are usually forked 
(dichotomous or trichotomous). Sometimes after the first forking 
the branches are no longer divided, but produce a succession of 
pedicels on the upper side, forming apparently unilateral 
racemes; but they differ.from true racemes by the pedicels 
springing, not from the axil of the bract, but from a point 
opposite its insertion or above or belowit. This variety, called 
a scorpioid cyme, is found in Drosera, the Boraginee, and many 
other "plants ; when young the branches are frequently rolled 
back at the top like the tail of a scorpion, whence the name. 
63. Bracts are generally placed singly under each branch of the in- 
florescence, and under each pedicel ; dracteoles are usually two, one on each 
side, on the pedicel, or close under the flower, or on the calyx itself; but 
bracts are also frequently scattered along the floral branches without 
axillary pedicels. 
64. When several bracts are collected in a whorl, or are so close together 
as to appear whorled, or are closely imbricated round the base of a head 
of flowers or an umbel, they are collectively called an Involucre. The 
bracts composing an involucre are variously termed, according to their 
appearance, leaves, leaflets, bracts, or scales, when placed close beneath the 
calyx, they form an epicalyx. Palee, or chaff, of the receptacle are the 
inner scale-like bracts of Composites, grasses, and seme other plants, 
when of a thin, yet rigid substance, usually narrow, and pale or trans- 
lucent. Gdwmes are the bracts of sedges and grasses. 
§ 9. The Flower. 
65. A flower is a terminal bud, enclosing the organs of reproduction. by 
seed. An unopened flower is called a flower-bud, or alabastrum ; and the 
period between the opening of a flower and the commencement of withering 
is called its anthesis. 
66. The parts of a flower or floral organs are—Ilst, the perianth, con- 
sisting either wholly of calyx, if in a single whorl; or of calyx and corolla, 
if in a double whorl; 2nd, the stamens, or fertilizing organs; 3rd, the 
pistil, which contains the ovules, or germs of the future seed. 
67. A complete flower is one in which the calyx, corolla, stamens, and 
pistil are all present ; a perfect flower is one in which all these organs, or 
such of them as are present, are capable of performing their several func- 
tions. An incomplete flower is one in which some of the floral organs are 
wanting ; and an imperfect flower one in which some organs are so altered 
as to be incapable of performing their proper functions. Imperfect organs 
are said to be suppressed, abortive, or rudimentary, if very much reduced in 
size and almost obliterated. 
68. A flower is, 
dichlamydeous, when the perianth is in two distinct whorls. 
monochlamydeous, when the perianth is in one whorl, or when 
calyx and corolla are so consolidated as to appear in a single 
iece. 
alpete when there is no calyx. 
apetalous, when there is no corolla. 
naked, when there 1s no perianth. 
hermaphrodite, or bisexual, when both stamens and pistil are present 
and perfect. 
male, or staminate, when stamens, but no pistil, or only an imperfect 
one, are present. 
JSemale, or pistillate, when there is a perfect pistil, but no stamens, or 
only imperfect ones, present. 
neuter, when both stamens and pistils are imperfect or absent. 
