LECT. VI.] THE STEM. BRANCHING. 259 



6. Two-ranked (distichi), when the branches 

 originating promiscuously are arranged in two 

 opposite series *, as in the Elm, Ulmus cam- 

 pestris. 



2. ALTERNATE (alterni), when they stand singly on 

 each side of the stem, in such 

 a manner, that between every 

 two on one side, there is but 

 one on the opposite side ; as 

 in purging Buckthorn, Rham- 

 nus catharticus, or in the sin- 

 gular American plant, called 

 Sweet Fern, Comptonia asple- 

 nifolia^c (fig. k). 



3. SCATTERED (sparsi), when 

 they are not given off from the 

 stem in any determinate man- 

 ner. 



** In direction. 



Branches are, relatively to the stem, either 

 erect, or spreading. 



1. ERECT (wecti), when they form a very acute 

 angle with the upper part of the stem, and, con- 

 sequently, nearly a right angle with the horizon- 

 There are three varieties of erect branches. 



* " Distichus ramos situ horizontali exserit." Phil. Bot. 

 82. p. 24. 



t Veg. Mat. Med.qfthe United States, vol. i. p. 224. 



