Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 7 



stem is called Solitary and Terminal. If several are 

 grouped together, they are in a Cluster. Clusters or 

 solitary flowers may occur at the ends of branches or 

 from the angle formed by a leaf and the stem, in 

 which case they are said to be Axillary. 



Clusters of flowers assume different forms. 

 When the blossoms are distributed along the upper 

 part of the stem, each on a slender pedicel and at 

 different heights, they are in a Raceme, if they are so 

 distributed, but the flowers are stemless the forma- 

 tion is said to be a Spike. If the cluster is rounded 

 or hemispherical, the flower pedicels all radiating 

 from a common point, it is said to be an Umbel. If 

 the cluster is rather flat on top and the pedicels meet 

 the axis at different points, it is a Corymb. If the end 

 of a stem is enlarged, thick and fleshy, and has tiny 

 flowers grouped on its surface, it is a Spadix. If 

 this spadix is enclosed in a leafy or fleshy protection, 

 the latter is a Spathe. 



