The Flower 141 



belong is that in which the growth of the main stem is 

 definite, that is to say it stops growing after a time and 

 growth is carried on by the side branches. If two stalks 

 grow out opposite each other at each node this results 

 in a very regular type such as you see in the buttercup 

 or in the spindle tree (Fig. 70). If you imagine this 

 squeezed flat you will get something that looks at first 

 like the same shaped flower head as the hedge parsley. 



Fig. 71. Flowers of Laurustinus. 



It cannot, however, really be the same because the 

 young flowers instead of being in the middle are found 

 dotted all about (Fig. 71). 



Suppose now that only one branch grows from each 

 node the result is a zigzag. When this is straightened 

 out it all looks like one stem. What is the one difference 

 which shows that this cannot be an inflorescence of 

 indefinite growth like the laburnum ? The bracts, instead 



