142 The Flower 



of growing at the base of each leaf stalk, always spring 

 from the opposite side of the stem. If therefore you 

 see an inflorescence that looks as if it grew exactly like 

 the laburnum except that the bracts have apparently 

 got shifted, you will know that it must really belong to 

 this last class and that all the separate parts of which it 

 is made up have been straightened out to look like one 

 stem. Without these bracts you would find it impossible 

 to tell to which of these classes a flower belonged. 



PRACTICAL WORK. 



1. Draw diagrams (life size) of the following inflorescences : 

 speedwell, plantain, wheat, arabis or wall-flower, cow parsnip. 



2. In the case of each of the above flowers do the stalklets grow 

 opposite each other or alternately ? are there any bracts present ? 

 whereabouts are the youngest flowers ? 



(Write the name of each flower on a new line with the answers to 

 the questions by its side.) 



3. Draw your red campion plant life size and make a diagram of 

 its branching at the side. 



4. Do the same number of branches grow out from each node ? 

 if so, how many? Does each branch go on growing indefinitely 

 or does it stop at a special point? 



5. Tie one of your labels on to each campion flower marking the 

 oldest " 1," the next " 2," and so on. 



6. Draw a diagram (twice life size) of the arrangement of flowers 

 in a head of privet. Draw small circles to represent the flowers 

 themselves, making the largest circles for the oldest flowers. 



7. Do the bracts grow from the base of the side stalks or on the 

 opposite side of the main stem ? 



8. Whereabouts are the youngest flowers in the cow parsnip ? 

 Whereabouts are they in the elder ? How do you account for this ? 

 Illustrate your answer with diagrams of both inflorescences. 



