INFLORESCENCE. 77 



ner ; the flowers developing in the order of their age, begin- 

 ning at the center. 



83. AVe will consider the flower, with r^^p^c^J to the organs 

 which it contains ; to the branches which sup^port it ; and the 

 flowers lohich are near it, or grow on the same peduncle. 



When the corolla is monopetalous it supports the stamens ; 

 when it is polypetaloiis the stamens are inserted npon the 

 calyx or npon the receptacle, and their number is then usually 

 double the number of petals, as in the pink, which has ten 

 stamens and five petals. When inserted beneath the ovary or 

 base of the pistil, the corolla is said to be hypogynous (under- 

 neath the style, or inferior), as in the stramonium. When it is 

 inserted into the calyx and surrounds the ovary, as in the cur- 

 rant, it is said to be perigynous (around the style, or envelop- 

 ing it). When the corolla is inserted upon the ovary, as in 

 the trumpet-honeysuckle, it is said to be epigynous, or supe- 

 rior. 



a. The disposition of flowers upon their branches is analo- 

 gous to that of leaves ; thus, flowers are either radical., coming 

 from the root, or caidine., coming from the stem ; they are 

 feduncled or sessile, solitary, scattered, or opposite, alternate or 

 axillary. They are unilateral, growing on one side of the 

 branch ; or fixed equally upon all parts of the peduncle and 

 pointing in difl'erent directions. 



b. The different modes of division of the common peduncle 

 into lesser peduncles or supports cause a great diflerence in 

 the appearance and situation of flowers, and exhibit a variety 

 of forms of inflorescence. The green part which comes from 

 the stem and supports the flower is called the peduncle, or foot- 

 stalk. The divisions of the peduncle are Q,2i^Q^ pedicels. When 

 the lateral buds of a flower-branch become flowers without 

 forming pedicels, a spihe is the result. The axis of the spike 

 continues to lengthen, producing new flowers at its summit, 

 arising from lateral buds ; this is called indefinite Fig. 91. 

 or indeterminate inflorescence. But when the bud 

 at the summit of the branch becomes a flower, the 

 inflorescence is said to be definite or determinate. 



When the plant is one-flowered, the flower is 

 usually inserted at the end of the stem ; the pedun- 

 cle in that case is scarcely distinct from the stem. 



84. Verticillaster (from verticillus, a kind of 

 screw), or whorl. A whorl in botany signifies a 

 circle, or ring, and the term is now usually applied.^- 

 to leaves, and the difl'erent whorls of the organs wdiich compose 



83. Flower considered under tliree aspects — Wliat is said of the corolla with respect to other organ* 

 of the flower? — a. What is said of the flower with respect to the branches which snii|)oit it ?- 

 h. With respect to the diviHious of tlie stem which support the flower ?— 84. Verticilla>:ter or wi'or'. 



