138 BOTANICAL EXPLANATIONS. 



INFLORESCENCE, OR MANNER OF FLOWERING. 



1. Whorl. An assemblage of flowers surrounding the 

 stem or its branches, constitute a whorl or ring: this is seen 

 in the Mint and many of the labiate plants. 



2. Raceme, or cluster, consists of numerous flowers each 

 on its own stalk or pedicle, and all arranged on one common 

 peduncle ; as a bunch of Currants. 



3. Panicle, bears the flowers in a kind of loose subdivided 

 bunch or cluster, without any regular order; as in the Oat. 

 A panicle contracted into a compact, somewhat ovate form, 

 as in the Lilac, is called a Thyrse, or bunch; a bunch of 

 Grapes is a good example. 



4. Spike. This is an assemblage of flowers arising from 

 the sides of a common stem: the flowers are sessile, or with 

 very short peduncles ; as the Wheat and the Mullein. 



5. Umbel, several flower-stalks, of nearly equal length, 

 spreading out from a common center, like the rays of an 

 umbrella, bearing flowers on their summits ; as Fennel and 

 Carrot. 



6. Cyme resembles an umbel in having its common stalks 

 all spring from one center, but differs in having those stalks 

 irregularly subdivided ; as the Snow-ball and Elder. 



7. Corymb^ or false umbel when the peduncles rise from 

 different heights above the main stem ; but the lower ones 

 being longer, they form nearly a level, or convex top ; as, the 

 Yarrow, 



8. Fascicle, flowers on little stalks variously inserted and 

 subdivided, collected into a close bundle, level at the top ; as 

 the Sweet William. 



9. Head, or tuft, has sessile flowers heaped together in a 

 globular form; as in the Clover. 



