1 66 BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS CHAP. 



2. The floral leaves are arranged either in a lateral (p. 17) 

 or in a spiral (p. 37) manner. This is just what we find in the 

 case of foliage leaves (p. 36-7). 



3. The floral leaves are very often leaf-like in form, markings, 

 and colour. 



4. In many cases the intermediate forms between floral 

 leaves and foliage leaves can be seen on one plant. Thus, in 

 the White Water-Lily there are numerous intermediate forms 

 between carpels, stamens, petals, and sepals. In the Christmas 

 Rose, too, all the various stages between foliage leaves and 

 carpels can be made out. 



5. Under cultivation, or change ot surroundings, the floral 

 leaves may become changed. Thus, in the cultivated Rose, the 

 stamens and carpels have been converted into petals. In some 

 cases wild flowers can be collected possessing green leaves 

 instead of carpels. 



A flower is a branch which has become modified for the 

 special work of producing seeds for the reproduction of its 

 kind. 



Inflorescence. An inflorescence is a collection of flowers 

 produced from a common stalk. The common stalk upon 

 which the flowers are borne is called a peduncle or rachis. 

 (Fig. 164). If the flowers possess stalks which connect them 

 to the peduncle the stalks are called pedicels. When the 

 flowers spring from the peduncle without stalks they are said to 

 be sessile. 



Many inflorescences are produced in the axils of leaves, 

 when they are said to be axillary. When found at the apex 

 of a shoot the flower is said to be terminal. 



Indefinite Inflorescences. If the flowers at the base of 

 an inflorescence open first, as in the Wallflower and Lily of the 

 Valley, the inflorescence is called indefinite. In such an 

 inflorescence the apex keeps on producing flowers, and we 

 cannot tell where it is going to stop flowering. 



Spike. There are a number of such indefinite inflor- 

 escences, all bearing a certain relation to one another. When 

 the flowers are arranged on the peduncle in a sessile manner, 

 /.<?., without pedicels, the inflorescence is said to be a spike. 

 Examples Ribgrass or Plantain, Bistort, and Verbena. 

 (Fig. 165). 



