36 



THE INFLOEESCENCE. 



The " spike," when numerous sessile flowers are packed together 

 in such a way as to form a long, slender, and cylindrical cluster, 

 like that of lavender and wheat. (Fig. 74.) The spike is some- 

 times several feet long, as in the hollyhock and the mullein. 



The " raceme," when the flowers are borne, as in the " spike," but 

 provided with peduncles, as in the laburnum and red currant. 

 The raceme is generally pendulous, and the spike generally 

 upright. Racemes are occasionally a little branched, and in a 

 few plants they are curiously curved inwards while young, like 

 a fern-leaf, as happens in the forget-me-not, the heliotrojje, and 

 the sundew. They are then called "circinate," or " incurved." 

 The stalk straightens as summer advances, and the curve dis- 

 appears. (Fig. 75.) 



The " catkin " is a kind of raceme peculiar to unisexual trees, com- 

 posed simply of bracts and stamens or pistils. Alder and hazle 

 trees furnish examples. (Fig. 68.) 



Fig. 78. 

 Panicle. 



Fig. 75. 

 Incuned Raceme. 



The " panicle " is like a raceme verj' much branched and subdivided, 

 as in oats, lilac, and bunches of grapes. (Fig. 73.) Several 

 different varieties have been distinguished, according to the 

 particular figure and direction of the branches. When but 

 slightly branched, the panicle is called " simple." 



The spike, the raceme, and the panicle often have their flowers all 

 turned one way, like the leaves of a parlour-geranium when drawn by 



