28 VEGETABLE ORGANOGRAPHY. 



and 4. The other, which takes place in a smaller 

 number of plants, is that where the axillary bud grows 

 so powerfully and rapidly as to cause two appearances 

 at once, viz. that it resembles the continuation of the 

 stem, and that the true stem is pushed to the side oppo- 

 site the leaf. In this state of things, less rare than is 

 imagined, two different cases happen, either by the 

 more or less forward disposition of each of these organs, 

 or by their place upon the stem. 



1st. Sometimes the axillary bud, thus developed into 

 a branch which seems terminal, receives such strength 

 as to flower first, attracts all the juices, and then the 

 real summit of the stem, thrown on one side under the 

 form of a branch, becomes abortive, and perishes. In 

 this case the raceme which is formed, although really 

 axillary, is said to be terminal ; it is this which takes 

 place in several Cruciferae. 



2d. Sometimes the axillary bud, developed into a 

 branch and replacing the stem, has less tendency than 

 the latter to flower ; and then this top of the stem, 

 pushed on the side opposite the leaf, absorbs propor- 

 tionally sufficient juice to sustain it, and begins to 

 flower under the form of an inflorescence opposite the 

 leaf. All who will follow the development of the 

 flowers opposite the leaves in the Cruciferae, Umbelliferae, 

 Leguminosas, and, in general, in all plants with alter- 

 nate leaves, will, I think, be convinced that it is in this 

 manner that the phenomenon takes place. They will 

 even be able to give an easy account of the details of the 

 phenomenon ; thus one may understand by this theory, 

 why the stem is often bent in a zigzag manner in the 

 species where the inflorescences are opposite the leaves. 



3d. When the fact which I have just mentioned takes 

 place at the bottom of the plant, neither the axillary 

 bud nor the stem itself being disposed to flower, it only 



