84 :fiSotans 



birch and willow show the catkin style. Jack-in-the- 

 jjulj^it exhibits the sj^adix method. The big-hooded 

 puli3it is not the flower — it is a sheathing leaf ; Mr. 

 Jack himself is the flower. If you open the pulpit 

 3^ou will see that the lower part of the club, called 

 Jack, is closely set round with little blossoms. This 

 club-formed inflorescence is a sj^adix. 



If 3'ou took a flower head and could pull out the 

 axis or cushion upon which the flowers are crowded, 

 and make a roll of it, you would have a spike 

 growth. The weed called plantain has its flowers in 

 a spike. 



The lilj^-of-the-valley grows in a loose branch or 

 raceme ; the long stem springs from the folded base 

 of the leaf, and upon it the lilies hang on tiny stem- 

 lets. The lower ones open first. If you could flatten 

 down this raceme to a disc, you would have flowers 

 placed on a flat, circular cushion, the outer ones 

 blooming while the central ones are buds. You will 

 notice in many flowers that the blossoms do not all 

 open at the same time ; the mullein and the yellow 

 evening-primrose open the lower blossoms first ; they 

 are dead and seeds have formed, before the uj^per 

 buds open. 



What we call a dandelion, and a thistle flower, are 

 really made up of many little florets growing upon 

 a single fleshy cushion, surrounded with crowded 



