ORGANS OF REPEODUCTION. 



205 



of the axil {fig. 416). In those cases, however, where the bracts 

 are abortive, as in most of the Eorage order, its discrimination 

 from the true raceme is often difficult or even impossible, and 

 its nature can only be ascertained by comparison with allied 

 plants, 



c. The Fascicle or Contracted Cyme.— This name is applied to 

 a cyme which is rather crowded with flowers placed on short 

 pedicels of nearly equal length, as in the Sweet-William and 

 some other plants of the Pink order to which that plant belongs. 



d. The Glomendc. — This is a cjTne which consists of a number 

 of sessile flowers, or of those where the pedicels are very short, 

 collected into a rounded head, or short spike. Examples may be 

 seen in species of Nettle and in the Box {fig. 417). It bears 

 nearly the same relation to the true cyme, as the capitulum does 

 to the umbel. 



Fig. 418. 



Fig. 417. 



Fig. 417. Inflorescence of the Box {Biixtis 

 sempervirens). Fig. 418. Mixed inflo- 

 rescence of a species of Stnecio. 



e. The Verticillaster. This kind of c\me is seen in the White 

 Dead-nettle {Lamium album) {fig. 367) and generally in other 

 plants of the Labiate order. In it the flowers appear at first 

 sight to be arranged in a whorl around the stem, but upon ex- 

 amination it will be readily seen, that there are two clusters 

 axillary to two opposite leaves, or leafy bracts, the central 

 flowers of which open flrst, and hence the mode of expansion 

 is centrifugal. To each of these clusters the name of verti- 

 cillaster is applied. 



