174 



BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS 



CHAP. 



Glomerule. When the flowers belonging to a number of 

 cymes are crowded and rolled together so as to form a head, 

 the inflorescence is called a glomerule. Examples Nettle, Box, 

 Valerianella. 



FIG. 177. Scorpioid cyme of Forget- 

 me-not. (Half nat. size.) 



FIG. 178. Verticillaster of the Dead- 

 nettle. 



EXPT. 164. Collect the inflorescence of the Stitch wort (it flowers 

 from April to August) and examine it. Note 



(i) The main axis produces a flower, and from beneath this the 

 branches are produced. 



(ii) The branches also produce flowers, new ones being formed from 

 beneath these. 



(iii) The branching is dichotomous, i.e., in a forked manner, and the 

 inflorescence is a dichotomous cyme. 



EXPT. 165. Obtain a Deadnettle when in flower. Note 



(i) The way in which the flower springs from the axil of opposite 

 leaves. 



(ii) Each pair of leaves produces flowers, those in the lower ones 

 opening first. 



(iii) The inflorescence is a verticillaster. 



Relation between the Definite Inflorescences. 



The variation in the different kinds of inflorescences depends 

 upon the mode of branching of the shoot. This is shown 

 in the dichotomous cyme of the Stitchwort. In the Forget-me- 

 not the axis is produced from lateral buds, the apical buds in 

 each case producing a flower. The lateral buds only develop 

 on one side. Thus, the scorpioid cyme of the Forget-me-not 



