BOTANY. 119 



The peduncle is the flower-stalk, or that part of the stem 

 which is attached to and supports the flowers : it may be simple 

 or branching, and it may be entirely absent, 

 rig 36 



[Fig. 36 shows a papilionaceous flower with its peduncles-3 



A scape is a flower-stalk, or peduncle, which springs imme- 

 diately from the root, in those plants which are called stemless, 

 as the sarracenia, hyacynthus, &c. 



A rachis is the main axis, or stem, of a compound peduncle, 

 along which are arranged the flowers, as in the currant, grape, 

 grasses, plantain, &c. 



A flower is said to be solitary, when a single terminal or 

 axillary flower is developed, as in the erythronium and con- 

 volvulus. The successive evolution of flowers is distinguished 

 into two varieties, viz : the centripetal and centrifugal. 



In centripetal inflorescence, the blooming of the flower com- 

 mences at the circumference and proceeds towards the centre, 

 as in the mustard, carrot, &c. 



In centrifugal inflorescence, the blossoming commences at 

 the terminal or central flower, and advances laterally to the 

 circumference, as in the elder, pink and sweet-william. These 

 two modes of inflorescence are sometimes combined in the 

 same plant. [Gray.] 



There are several varieties of centripetal inflorescence, which 



