ORGANS OF REPRODUCTIOX. 



195 



pedicel Examples of this occur, in the Butcher's-Broom (Buscus 

 acuhatus) {fig. 386), where the flowers arise from its surface, 



Fig. 385. 



Fig. 386. 



Fig. 385. Female plant of Vallisneria spiralis, with its flowers arransed on 



spiral peduncles Fig. 38(5. Portion of u branch of the Butcher's-Broom 



{Ruscus aculeatus), with phylloid pedicels bearing flowers a. 



and in Xylophylla, in which the flowers are attached to its mar- 

 gins. Sometimes the peduncle, or several peduncles united, 

 assume an irregular flattened appearance, somewhat resembling 

 a fasciated branch already described, and bear numerous flowers 

 in a sort of crest at their extremities, as in the Cock's-comb. 



In speaking of the branches of a stem, we found that in some 

 cases instead of arising in the axil of leaves, they became extra- 

 axillary, in consequence of adhesions of various kinds taking 

 place between them and the stem, &.c. In like manner the 

 peduncle may become extra -axillary by contracting adliesious. 

 Thus, in the Lime tree {Tilia europipa) (fig. 387), the peduncle 

 adheres to the midrib of the bract for some distance, and then 

 becomes free. In many Solanaceie (fig. 388), the peduncle 

 also becomes extra-axillary by lorming adhesions to the stem in 

 various ways. 



With respect to their duration the peduncle and pedicel vary. 

 Thus, they are said to be caducous, when they fall off" soon after 

 the opening of the flower, as in the staminiferous or male flowers 

 of a catkin ; they are deciduous, when they fall off" after the 

 fruit has ripened, as in the Cherry ; they are persistent if they 

 remain after the ripening of the fruit and dispersion of the seed, 

 as in the Dandelion; or if they enlarge or continue to grow during 

 o2 



