CYMOSE INFLORESCENCE. 135 



foliage-leaves by the position of the floral leaves shown in 

 Fig. 406. 



The SUPERVOLUTE arrangement is the name given to 

 the folding of the gamosepalous calyx, or the gamopetal- 

 ous corolla (Fig. 407). Observe whether the overlapping 

 is from right to left, or from left to right, as you stand 

 before the flower. Observe, also, whether the mode of 

 arrangement is the same in the calyx and corolla. 



The plaiting of a gamopetalous corolla is shown in 

 Fig. 408. 



EXERCISE LXI. 

 Cymose, or Definite Inflorescence. 



It often requires much skill and patience to determine 

 whether a particular panicle, corymb, raceme, or head, is 

 definite or indefinite. 



The buttercup, wild columbine, rose, and cinquefoil, 

 are common examples of cymose inflorescence among 

 alternate-leaved plants, while Saint- John's-wort, chickweed, 

 sedum or live-forever, dog-wood, elder, hydrangea, are 

 opposite-leaved examples. Get as many of these as you 

 can, and begin the study with the inflorescence of an 

 alternate-leaved plant. Compare it with Fig. 409. In this 

 plant each shoot terminates in a flower, and the growth is 

 continued by means of branches. Here the main or 

 primary stem (A, A) terminates with a flower which must, 

 of course, be the oldest of the cluster. The branches 

 (B, B, B) continue the growth, blossom, and cease to 

 lengthen. From these branches proceed others (C, C), 

 and so on. 



Such a loose, irregular, definite inflorescence is called 

 a cyme ; but, when the number of branches is greatly in- 

 creased, and the peduncles acquire such lengths as to give 

 a peculiar outline, the cluster receives a more special 

 name. Fig. 410 represents the cymose inflorescence of an 

 opposite-leaved plant. The main or primary stem termi- 



