GENERAL CHARACTEES OF PLANTS 9 



4. Umbel. — Tlie jiodieols all start fioni the saino level on the 

 peduncle. 



5. Cyme. — An arrangement in \\hich the flower directly at the 

 end of the peduncle opens first, followed by those on the branching 

 pedicels. 



6. Panicle. — A compound raceme — a raceme the pedicels of 

 which are themselves branched. 



7. CapHuhim or Flower-head. — A dense cluster of flowers, all 

 attached to a common broad disc or receiitacle. 



Other forms of inflorescence may also be compound. Thus, a 

 compound umbel is produced when the pedicels of an umbel are 

 themselves umbellate. 



The Fi,ower 



A flower, if complete in all its parts, consists of modified leaves 

 arranged in four distinct whorls, the jmrts being directly or indirectly 

 attached to a receptacle. 



The outer whorl is the calyx, and is composed of parts called 

 sepals, which may be either united or distinct. The calyx is 

 usually green ; but, in some cases, is more or less highly coloured. 

 Sometimes the calyx is quite free from the pistil or central part of the 

 flower, the sides of which are thus left naked, and the calyx is 

 then said to be inferior. If, however, it is united to the siu-face 

 of the pistil it is superior. When it remains after other jiarts of the 

 flower have decayed, it is said to be persistent. 



The second whorl — the corolla — is usually the whorl that gives 

 most beauty to the flower. It is composed of parts, united or 

 distinct, called petals. 



Both calyx and corolla vary very considerably in shape. They 

 may be cup-shaped, tubular, beU-shaped, spreading, funnel-shaped, 

 lipped, &c. If the sepals and petals are arranged symmetrically 

 round a common centre, the calyx and corolla, respectively, are said 

 to be regular ; if otherwise, they are irregular. 



The thu'd whorl consists of the stamens, each of which, in its 

 most perfect form, is made up of a filament or stalk, and an anther 

 which, when matm-e, splits and sets free the pollen that is formed 

 within it. Sometimes the stamen has no filament, and the anther 

 is then said to be sessile. 



The mode of attachment of the stamens is ver}' variable. They 



