CHAPTER LIII. 



FLOWERING PLANTS (continued}. 



THE FLORAL AXIS INFLORESCENCE FRUIT SEED NUTRITION OF 



PLANTS ABSORBTION OF CONSTITUENTS. 



THERE are certain arrangements and mutual relations of the various por- 

 tions of the flowers which we have mentioned that it is useful to consider. 

 The floral axis refers to the position of the verticils, and inflorescence signifies 

 the arrangement of the flowers on the stem. Flowers which possess both 

 stamens and pistil are Iiermaphrodite ; those with only stamens are male ; 



Fig- 777- (0 Spike. 



(2) Catkin. 



(3) Spadix 



(4) Cone. 



those with the pistil female flowers. If both organs be absent the flower is 

 neutral. 



Plants bearing flowers in clusters form several distinct groups, to which 

 appropriate terms are applied indicative of their respective form of flora 

 arrangement. 



In the examination of this kind of inflorescence (indefinite or axillary 

 inflorescence}, the first object of remark is the general or primary peduncle, 



