THE FLOWER SHOOT 



9. The catkin. A spike which, usually falls away after the 

 maturity of the flower or fruit, is called a catkin. The flower 

 clusters of the alder, willow, poplar, and the staminate flower 

 clusters of the oak, hickory, hazel, birch, etc., are catkins. 



Fig. 109. 

 A head (ox-eye daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, slightly reduced). 



239. Cymose flower clusters. The most prominent kinds 

 are as follows : 



i. The cyme. In the cyme the terminal flower on the main 



Fig. no. 



Diagrams of cymose inflorescence. 

 Scorpioid cyme. 



Fig. in. 



Helicoid cyme. (After 

 Strasburger.) 



axis opens first and the remaining flowers are borne on lateral 

 shoots, which arise from the axils of leaves or bracts, below. 

 These lateral shoots usually branch and elongate so that the 



