INFLORESCENCE.—THE BRACT. 191 
The parts of a flower (as will be particularly shown here- 
after), are only leaves in a modified condition, or rather the ana- 
logues of these organs, or, more properly, homologous formations 
adapted for special purposes ; and hence a flower-bud is analo- 
gous to a leaf-bud, and the flower itself to a branch the inter- 
nodes of which are but slightly developed, so that all its parts 
are situated in nearly the same plane. As flower-buds are thus 
analogous to leaf-buds, they are subject to similar laws of 
arrangement and development. 
Section 1. INFLORESCENCE OR ANTHOTAXIS. 
THE term inflorescence or anthotaxis is applied generally to 
indicate the floral axis and its ramification, or the arrangement 
of the flowers upon that axis. Under this head we have to ex- 
amine—lIst, the Leaf from the axil of which the flower-bud 
arises ; 2nd, the Stalk upon which the flower or flowers are 
situated ; and 3rd, the Kinds of Inflorescence. 
Fie. 393. 
Fig. 393. Flowering stalk of the White Dead-nettle (Lamium album), 
with leafy bracts and verticillasters in their axils, 
1. THE BRACT. 
We have just stated that flower-buds are analogous to leaf- 
buds ; and this analogy is still further proved by their occupy- 
ing similar situations to them ; thus they are placed either at the 
