OF INFLORESCENCE. 23 



opposite ones forms a kind of ring or false verticil 

 around the stem ; and for this reason the Labiatae have 

 been frequently confounded with true verticillate flowers, 

 which are very rare in nature. It sometimes happens 

 that the cymes of the Labiatae are composed of a very 

 small number of flowers ; they may even be reduced to 

 one, without the fundamental type of the inflorescence 

 being altered; for in this case the floral pedicule pre- 

 sents two opposite bracteoles, from the centre of which 

 rises the proper pedicel, and from the axils of which 

 ought to proceed the lateral ramuscules. It happens in 

 some Labiatae that the cymes only arise from the upper 

 axils ; then the leaves are reduced to the state of bracts, 

 and the internodes are much shortened. These pheno- 

 mena cause the continuous thyrse to be rather compact, 

 sometimes in the form of a raceme, as in Clinopodium ; 

 at others, in that of a spike, as in Lavandula. In these 

 racemiform or spiciform thyrses, it sometimes happens 

 that the upper branches cease to bear flowers, are more 

 or less coloured, increase much in size, and form at the 

 summit of the thyrse a bunch, which recalls to mind 

 that of Eucomis : this is observed in Salvia Horminum, 

 Lavandula slcechas, <xc. 



All that I have said of the Labiatae is equally appli- 

 cable to the Lythrariae, in which are found sometimes, 

 as in Ammannia, lax lateral cymes ; sometimes, as in 

 Lythrum, short ones, which collectively resemble either 

 a terminal spike (Salicarice) or simple axillary flowers 

 (Hyssopifolice). 



The comparison of the species of Eugenia together 

 presents a clear example of the apparent modifications 

 which may result from the system of interrupted thyrses. 

 We here find species which seem to have a simple one- 

 flowered pedicel ; but this apparent pedicel bears two 

 opposite bracteoles, and it ought to be considered as a 



