216 THE INFLORESCENCE. 



380. In both of the examples just adduced, the flower is solita- 

 ry ; but there is a difference in one respect. In Fig. 249, the 

 flower terminates the stem ; it stands in the place of a terminal 

 bud. In Fig. 229, it arises from the axil of a leaf, or represents 

 an axillary bud. These two cases, in fact, exhibit the two types 

 (reduced to the greatest simplicity), to the one or the other of 

 which all the forms of inflorescence belong. 



381. We may begin with the second of these plans ; in which 

 the flowers all spring from axillary buds ; while the terminal bud, 

 developing as an ordinary branch, continues the stem or axis in- 

 definitely. For the stem in such case may continue to elongate, 

 and produce a flower in the axil of every leaf, until its powers are 

 exhausted (Fig. 230). This gives rise, therefore, to what is called 



382. Indefinite or Indeterminate Inflorescence, The primary axis is 

 here never terminated by a flower; but the secondary axes (from 

 axillary buds) are thus terminated. Before we enumerate the va- 

 rious forms of inflorescence of this class, a few terms must be de- 

 fined which necessarily come into use in distinguishing the parts of 

 a flower-cluster. ^ The primary axis, or general stalk which bears 

 the whole cluster of flowers, retains the name of PEDUNCLE (379), 

 while the secondary axes, which form the partial flower-stalks and 

 support each a single blossom, now receive the name of PEDICELS. 

 These, being axillary branches, must of course be subtended each 

 by a leaf, or else will show the scar left by its fall. The leaves of 

 an inflorescence, however, are usually reduced in size, or changed 

 in appearance, so as to be quite unlike the ordinary leaves of the 

 plant : they are called sometimes floral leaves, or more commonly 

 BRACTS. The bracts are often reduced to a minute size, so as to 

 escape ordinary notice : they very frequently fall off when the 

 flower-bud in their axil expands, or even still earlier ; and some- 

 times, as in the greater part of the Mustard Family, they altogether 

 fail to appear. The portion of the general stalk along which 

 flowers are borne is called the axis of the inflorescence, and some- 

 times, especially when covered with sessile flowers, the RACHIS 

 (from its resemblance or analogy to the backbone). 



383. The various forms of indefinite inflorescence which in de- 

 scriptive botany are distinguished by special names, as might be 

 expected, run into one another through endless intermediate gra- 

 dations. In nature, they are not so absolutely fixed as in our writ- 

 ten definitions ; and whether this or that name should be used in a 



