INFLORESCENCE. 109 



or sessile, solitary, scattered or opposite, alternate or axillary. 

 Sometimes they are unilateral, growing on one side of the 

 branch, and sometimes fixed equally upon all parts of the pe- 

 duncle and pointing in different directions. 



3d. The corolla with respect to the flowers which surround it, 

 or which grow on the same peduncle. 



The different modes of division of the common peduncle, in- 

 to lesser peduncles or supports, cause a great difference in the 

 appearance and situation of flowers, and appear under a variety 

 of forms. The green part which comes from the stem and 

 supports the flower, is called the peduncle ; sometimes it is call- 

 ed the foot stalk of the flower or fruit. The divisions of the 

 peduncle are called pedicels. 



When the plant is one flowered, the flower is usually insert- 

 ed at the end of the stem ; the peduncle in that case is scarcely 

 distinct from the stem. 



The most common kinds of inflorescence are as follows ; 

 Fig. 62. 



1st. Whorl (Fig. 62), an assemblage 

 of flowers surrounding the stem or its 

 branches, constitutes a whorl or ring ; 

 this is se^n in mint and many of the la- 

 biate plants. Flowers which grow in 

 this manner are said to be verticillate, 

 from the Latin word verto, to turn. 

 Leaves surrounding the stem in a simi- 

 lar manner are said to be stellate, or 

 like a star. 



3d. Flowers which surround the corolla Different kinds of inflorescence 

 -Whorl. 



10 



