68 



INFLORESCENCE. 



the proliferous rose when the axis grows on through the flower bearing leaves above 

 it. In some instances the skillful gardener learns how to effect this interchange of 

 nature in the buds at pleasure. 



324. HENCE IN POSITION AND ARRANGEMENT flower buds can not 

 differ from leaf buds, and both are settled by the same unerring law 

 which determines the arrangement of the leaves. Accordingly the 

 flower bud is always found either terminal or axillary. 



325. A single bud, whether terminal or axillary, may develop either 

 a compound inflorescence, consisting of several flowers with their stalks 

 and bracts, or a solitary inflorescence, consisting of a single flower. 



326. THE FLOWER-BUD is INCAPABLE OF EXTENSION. While the leaf- 

 bud may unfold leaf after leaf and node after node to an indefinite ex- 

 tent, the flower-bud blooms, dies, and arrests for ever the extension of 

 the axil which bore it. 



327. THE PEDUNCLE is the flower-stalk. It bears no leaves, or at 

 least only such as are reduced in size and changed in form, called bracts. 

 If the peduncle is wanting the flower is said to be sessile. 



328. THE SIMPLE PEDUNCLE bears a single flower ; but if the pedun- 

 cle be divided into branches, it bears several flowers, and the final divis- 

 ions bearing each a single flower, are called pedicels. 



329. THE SCAPE is a flower-stalk which springs from a subterranean 

 stem, in such plants as are called stemless or acaulescent, as the prim- 

 rose, tulip, blood-root. Like the peduncle it is leafless or with bracts 

 only, and may be either simple or branched. 



330. THE RACHIS (pa^, spine) is the axis of the inflorescence, or 

 the main stem of the compound peduncle along which the pedicels are 

 arranged. 



331. THE TORUS OR RECEPTACLE is the end or summit of the flower- 

 stalk. 



1ST 186 1S5 



188 



Anomalous peduncles. 186, Linden-tree. 1S6, ButcherVbroom. 1ST, Xylophylla. 188,Cockscomb. 



