436 



ELONGATION OP THE 



the peduncles or pedicels, and sometimes alters tlie 

 general character of the inflorescence very considerably, 

 converting a spike into a raceme, a raceme into a 

 cor^Tnb, a capitulum into an umbel, and so forth. A 

 few such cases may here be alluded to. Fig. 206 re- 



Fio. 206. Inflorescence of Banuncultis acm, with secondary pedvmcles 

 lengthened. 



presents a specimen of Ranunculus acris, in which the 

 lower and lateral flower-stalks were not only increased 

 in number, but so much lengthened as to form a flat- 

 topped inflorescence a corymbose cyme. In many 

 leguminous plants, as in Trifolium repens, Lotus cm'ni- 

 culatus, &c., what is usually a compact spike, or head 



