196 ORGANOGRAPHY. 



Fig. 387. Fig. 388. 



Fig. ^7. Peduncle of the Lime tree (Tilia europcea) attached to bract 6 



Fig. 388. Branch of Woody Niglitshade {,Solanum Dulcamara) with extra- 

 axillary peduncle. 



the ripening of the fruit, as in the Cashew Nut, tliey are ex- 

 crescent. 



3. Kinds of Inflorescence. — Flowers are variously arranged 

 upon the floral axis, and to each mode of arrangement a particular 

 name is applied These modifications are always the same for the 

 same species of plant, and frequently throughout entire genera, 

 and even natural orders, and hence their discrimination is of great 

 practical importance. All the regular forms may be arranged in 

 two great classes, the principles of which being understood, their 

 subordinate modifications will be readily intelligible. These two 

 are called : 1st, Indefinite or Indeterminate, and 2nd, Definite or 

 Determinate Inflorescence. In tlic former, the primary floral axis 

 is terminated by a growing point, analogous to the terminal leaf- 

 bud of a stem, or branch, and hence such an axis has the jwwer of 

 growing or elongating in an ujjward direction, or of dilating more 

 or less horizontally, in the same manner as the terminal leaf-bud of 

 a stem has the power of elongating, and thus adding to its length. 

 There is consequently no necessary limit to the growth of snch 

 an axi.s, and hence the names of Indeterminate or Indefinite 

 which is api^lied to it. Such an axis as it continues to grow 

 upwards developes on its s'dcs other buds, from wliich flowers 



