6 FLOWERING PLANTS OF GREAT BRITAIN 



The Inflorescence indicates the mode in which the blossoms care placed 

 on the stem. 



A flower-stalk rising directly from the root, and bearing no leaves, is 

 termed a scape, as in the Daisy or Primrose (84). 



It is axillary when inserted in the angle between the leaf and stem, as in 

 Balsam (13). 



It is terminal when at the extremity of the stem, as the Violet and Grass 

 of Parnassus (8). 



A flower-stalk bearing one flower only is termed simple. 



A stalk bearing a numlier of flowers seated on it one above another, like 

 those of the Plantain, is termed a spike (85). 



When, instead of being sessile, the flowers grow on simple stalks, it is a 

 raceme, as in Melilot (86). 



A panicle is a branched cluster, as in the Oat or Spurrey (87). 



A corymb has the lower flowers on long stalks, and the upjier either 

 nearly or quite sessile (88). 



A cyme has the stalks irregularly branched, but the flowers nearly level 

 at the top, as in the Laurustinus and the Strawberry (89). • 



The umbel has the flower-stalks springing from a common centre, and 

 bearing each a single flower (90), as in Ivy. When instead of a single flower 

 on each stalk, there is a smaller umbel, the inflorescence is a compound 

 umbel, the larger division being termed a general, and the smaller a partial 

 umbel (91). 



A head is like a simple umbel, except that the flowers are all sessile, as 

 in Thrift (92). 



A catkin resembles a spike, except that the flowers are enclosed within a 

 small scale or bract, as in the Sallow (93). 



NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF PLANTS. 



The Vegetable Kingdom is divided into the three great Classes of DICO- 

 TYLEDONES, MONOCOTYLEDONES, and ACOTYLEDONES. 



Class I. DICOTYLEDONES. 



This Class consists of such plants as produce seeds divisible into two lobes 

 or cotyledons. It is divided into four Sub-classes, — Thalamiflorse, Calyciflorse, 

 Corolliflora), and Monochlamydeoe. 



Sub-class I. TlIALAMIFLOR^. 



Flowers having both calyx and corolla ; petals distinct, inserted into the 

 receptacle, or thalamus ; stamens springing from the base of the ovary. 

 This Sub-class contains twenty-two British Orders. 



Sub-class II. Calyciflor^. 



Flowers with calyx and corolla ; sepals distinct, or united ; petals dis- 

 tinct ; stamens inserted in the calyx, or close to its base. This Sub-class 

 contains eighteen British Orders. 



