CHAPTER VI. — ANTHOTAXY. 



53 



reaches its perfection as a plant then, and in many cases, from 

 that time ceases its growth. During its formation and the sub- 

 sequent process of perfecting the seed, its stored-up energies 

 suffer heavy drainage, resulting either in the death of the plant, 

 as in the case of annuals, biennials and some perennials, or in 

 its entering upon a period of rest to recuperate its exhausted 

 vitality. 



Let us begin our study of flowers by observing their anthotaxy. 



CHAPTER VI.— ANTHOTAXY. 



By Anthotaxy is meant the arrangement of the flowers on the 

 stein. It is often called inflorescence. Flowers may occur singly 



on the stem, or in clusters, and the 

 latter may have various shapes and 

 characteristic modes of arrangement. 

 In a flower-cluster, the axis along 

 which the flowers are arranged is 

 called the rachis, or axis of inflores- 

 cence ; the common stalk of the clus- 

 ter, the common peduncle ; the stalks 

 of the individual flowers, the pedicels ; 

 and the modified leaves from which 

 the branches of the cluster spring, 

 bracts or bractlets, according as they 

 occur on the rachis or on some of its 

 branches. See Fig. 176 and accom- 

 panying explanation. 



There are two distinct types of 

 Anthotaxy, the indeterminate or axil- 

 lary, and the determinate or cymose. 



An Indeterminate Anthotaxy is one in which the flowers occur 

 in succession from the base toward the apex of the main stem. 

 When clustered on this plan, those flowers come into blossom 

 first which are situated lowest down on the rachis, or, in the case 

 of a flat-topped cluster, at the periphery. The principal forms 

 of this type are the following : 



Fig. 176. — A raceme, showing 

 axis of inflorescence, or rachis, a ; 

 common peduncle b ; pedicels, d ; 

 bracts, c ; bractlets, e; and flow- 

 ers, /. 



