202 



OEGANOGEAPHY. 



it is said to be trichotomous. Cymes are also frequently charac- 

 terised as corymbose, or umbellate, from their resemblance to 

 the ordinary kinds of indefinite corymb, or umbel. 



When a definite inflorescence does not assume a more or less 

 corymbose, or umbellate form, as in the true cyme just described, 

 it is best characterised by terms derived from the kind of inde- 

 finite inflorescence to which it bears a resemblance. Thus when 

 a cyme has sessile flowers, or nearly so, as in the Sedum {fig. 

 410), it is described as a spiked cyme; when it has its flowers on 

 pedicels of nearly equal length, as in the Campanula (fig. 4:11), 



Fig. 412. 



Fig. 413. 



Fig. 412. Panicled cyme of the 

 Privet (Ligastrum vidgare). a'. 

 Primary axis, a", a". Secondary 

 axes, a'", a'". Tertiary axes. 

 c,c. The central flowers of the 

 respective clusters, wliich are 

 seen to be in a more expanded 

 state than those surrounding 



them. Fig. 413. Helicoid 



cyme of the Forget-me-not 

 iMi/o.iotis palustris). 



as a racemose cyme ; or when it assumes the form of a panicle, 

 as in the Privet {fig. 412), as a panicled cyme. These forms of 

 cymes are readily distinguished from the true racemes and other' 

 kinds of indefinite inflorescence, by the terminal flowers opening 

 first, and the others expanding in succession towards the base, 

 or in a centrifugal manner ; while in the true raceme, and the 



