CHAPTER XIX 



FLOWER-BRANCHES 



244. We have seen (87) that branches arise from the 

 axils of leaves. Sometimes the leaves may be reduced to 

 bracts and yet branches are borne in their axils (225). Some 

 of the branches grow into long limbs; others become short 

 spurs or thorns (227) ; others bear flowers. 



245. Flowers are usually borne near the 

 top of the plant, since the plant must grow 

 before it blooms. Often they are produced in 

 great numbers. It results, therefore, that 

 flower-branches usually stand close together, 

 forming a cluster. The shape and arrange- 

 ment of the flower-cluster differ with the kind 

 of plant, since each 



plant has its own mode 

 of branching. 



246. Certain definite 

 or well-marked types 

 of flower-clusters have 

 received names. Some 

 of these names we shall 

 discuss, but the 

 flower-clusters that 



perfectly match the definitions are 

 the exception rather than the rule. 

 The determining of the kinds of 

 flower-clusters is one of the most 

 perplexing subjects in descriptive 

 botany. We may classify the sub- 



(118) 



181. Solitary ter- 

 minal flower of 

 corn-cockle. 



182. 



Lateral flower 

 of abutilon. 



