HELICOID OR SCORPIOID CYME. 215 
axis, d, placed in a similar manner, and so on. The place of 
the axis which is undeveloped at each ramification is indicated 
by a dotted line. In consequence of this one-sided (or as it is 
called secwnd) manner in which the successive axes are pro- 
duced, the direction of the inflorescence is constantly drawn to 
one side at the formation of each axis, and that in proportion 
to the size of the angle formed by it with the axis from which 
it springs, and thus when the angle is large, and many flowers 
are produced in succession, the upper extremity becomes com- 
pletely coiled up in a circinate manner (fig. 441). In plants 
with alternate bracts, the helicoid cyme arises from the primary 
axis (fig. 442, 1) being terminated by a flower, and giving off 
below it from the uppermost bract a secondary axis 2, which 
Fig. 441. Fic. 442. 
Fig. 441, Diagram to il‘ustrate the formation of a helicoid or scorpioid cyme 
in a plant with opposite bracts. a. Flower terminating the primary axis. 
b. Secondary axis. c. Tertiary axis. d. Quaternary axis, Hach axis is 
terminated by a flower. The dotted lines represent the position of the 
undeveloped axes. Fig. 442. Diagram to illustrate the formation of a 
helicoid or scorpioid cyme in a plant with alternate bracts. The figures 
represent the respective axes, and the dotted lines below the flowers the 
position of the bracts, 
also terminates in a flower, and gives off below it in like 
manner from the same side as the former a third axis 3, which 
likewise terminates in a flower, and so on as seen by the figures. 
The place of the bracts is indicated by the dotted lines below 
the flowers. 
The terms helicoid and scorpioid are thus used by us in- 
diffcrently to indicate the same form of wnilateral, monochasial, 
or wriparous cyme. This is the sense in which we have em- 
ployed them in previous editions of this Manual, and in which 
we follow De Candolle, Le Maout, Decaisne, Hooker, and many 
other botanists. We are still induced to do so, because their 
nature is at present by no means well defined, and from the 
synonymy being best understood and practically exemplified in 
Descriptive Botany, at least in this country. But many Conti- 
nental botanists distinguish two kinds of uniparous cymes, 
