HOW TO KXOW THE WILD FLOWERS. 35 



five irregular petals, one large at the top, two at the 

 side, and two at the bottom. The calyx and corolla 

 are not present in all flowers : some have one without 

 the other some have neither. In any case the word 

 perianth is used to express the part of the flower 

 which encloses the stamen and pistils. 



But the flowers, with their wonderful stamens and 

 pistils the former representing the male and the latter 

 the female portion of the flower are joined to the 

 stem in various ways. This is termed by botanists the 

 INFLOEESCENCE. The primrose, which has only one 

 flower on a stem, is termed simple. If, however, the 

 flowers grow one above another, as in the purple loose- 

 strife or the lavender, it is called a spike. If the 

 flowers, however, grow in clusters and have foot-stalks, 

 as currants do, then it forms what is termed a raceme : 

 the laburnum is a familiar instance of the raceme, and 

 the lilac is an example of the upright and branching 

 raceme, which is called tJtyrse. When the flowers 

 are on separate branched stalks, as in the oat and 

 London pride, it bears the name of panicle. When 

 the lower foot-stalks are longer than those of the uj,per, 

 as in the common stock, it is called a corym~b. The 

 Guelder rose and yarrow are examples of this species 



