INFLORESCENCE OR ANTHOTAXIS. 



151 



of leaves, which are called floral leaves or bracts. A flower-bud has 

 not in ordinary circumstances any power of extension by the develop- 

 ment of its central cellular portion. 

 In this respect it differs from a leaf- 

 bud. In some cases, however, of 

 monstrosity, especially seen in the Eose 

 (fig. 226) and Geum, the central part, 

 A, is prolonged, and bears leaves 

 or flowers. In such cases the flowers 

 are usually abortive, the essential or- 

 gans being so altered as to unfit them 

 for their functions. Such metamor- 

 phoses confirm Goethe's doctrine, that 

 all the parts of the flower are altered 

 leaves. 



325. The general axis of inflor- 

 escence, is sometimes called rachis 

 (fax's, the spine); the stalk support- 

 ing a flower, or a cluster of flowers, 

 is a peduncle (pes, a foot) (fig. 231 a'); 

 and if small branches are given off by 

 it, they are called pedicels (fig. 231 

 a"). A flower having a stalk is called 

 pedunculate or pedicellate (fig. 231); 

 one having no stalk is sessile (fig. 237). 

 In describing a branching inflores- 

 cence, it is common to speak of the 



Rachis as the primary floral axis, its branches as the secondary floral 

 axes, their divisions as the tertiary floral axes, and so on; thus avoid- 

 ing any confusion that might arise from the use of the terms rachis, 

 peduncle, and pedicel. 



326. The Peduncle assumes various forms. It is 

 cylindrical, compressed, and grooved; simple, bear- 

 ing a single flower, as in Primrose; and branched, 

 as in London-pride. It is sometimes large and suc- 

 culent, as in the Cashew (fig. 227 p\ in which the 

 peduncle forms the large coloured expansion sup- 

 porting the nut; spiral, as in Cyclamen and Vallis- 

 neria (fig. 228); spiny, as in Alyssum spinosum. 

 Sometimes the floral axis is shortened, assuming a 

 flattened, convex, or concave form, and bearing 327 



Fig. 226, Proliferous or monstrous Rose, showing the prolongation of the axis beyond the 

 flowers, c, Calyx transformed into leaves, p, Petals multiplied at the expense of the stamens, 

 which are reduced in number. /, Coloured leaves representing abortive carpels, a, Axis pro - 

 longed, bearing an imperfect flower at its apex. 



Fig. 237. Fruit of Cashew (Anacardium occidental), p. Enlarged peduncle, a, Fruit or nut. 



