THE IKFLOKESCENCE. 



107 



raceme, each pedicel of which bears many flowers ; but where the rachis itself divides, 

 and no longer exists as an axis, the panicle is termed deliquescent. This latter form 

 gives rise to another variety the Cyme (Fig. 198), as in the Elder (Sa/nbucus nigr) 



Fig. 195. Fascicle. 



Fig. 194. The Raceme, 

 its single stalked flowers. 



Fig. 196. Corymb. 



Fig. 197. Panicle. 



which consists of a series of deliquescent panicles that have become short and corym- 

 bose, with their central foot-stalks meeting at a common centre. The last form is the 

 Umbel, and is divided into two classes, the Simple and the Compound (Fig. 199). The 

 Simple Umbel consists of a number of corymbose branches, meeting at a common point, 

 as in the Cyme, and differs from the Cyme only in that the branches are corymbs and 

 not panicles. The Compound Umbel is distinguished from the Simple Umbel by the 

 division of the pedicels, so that they divide and bear other Umbels. The whole head of 

 Umbels is then called an universal umbel. 



Such is a written description of this somewhat complex and difficult subject ; but 

 !n order to a ready familiarity with the various kinds of inflorescence, it will be 

 necessary to select the illustrations, and carefully study them with the descriptions, 



