OF INFLORESCENCE. 11 



variable : thus it is not rare to find inflorescences which 

 are racemes at the base, and spikes above, or which are 

 spikes in their infancy, and become racemes when they 

 are older. When several floral branches have flowers 

 in a spike, and are so close together as to seem to form 

 a single inflorescence, the name of Branching Spike 

 is given to it ; as, for example, in Statice s])icata, a 

 variety of Plantarjo lanceolate., Sec. 



We describe, under the particular name of Catkin 

 ( amentum), certain spikes which are remakable for this — 

 that after the flowering of the male flowers, or tire fruc- 

 tification of the female, has been performed, the axis of 

 the spike dries up, and disarticulates at the base ; such 

 are the male inflorescences of the Hazel, Oak, &c, and 

 those of the two sexes of the Willow. The difference 

 between the catkin and spike is less distinct in reality 

 than it appears to be ; and it frequently happens, for 

 example, that in the same species of Willow the male 

 flowers are in a catkin, or caducous spike, and the 

 females in a permanent one. There are some spikes, 

 the flowers of which are slightly pedicellate, and 

 approach the raceme. In Firs we find branching cat- 

 kins, formed of a central branch and several lateral 

 ones. 



The name of Cone (conns strobilus) is given to the 

 female spikes of the Coniferae, which are furnished with 

 very large bracts. The female spikes of the Hop are 

 kinds of cones with membranous bracts. 



The flowers of almost all the Gramineas are alternate, 

 and closely arranged along an axis, at the base of 

 which are found one, or, more frequently, two peculiar 

 bracts, which are called glumes. We give this inflo- 

 rescence the name of Spikelet (spicula, locusta); and 

 as these spikelets are found in almost all the Gramineae, 

 it is usual to say that their flowers are spiked when the 



