FLOWER-BUD. 35 



the external or inferior of which are usually alternate, and the 

 internal or superior always verticillate, or opposite ; the latter 

 are called floral envelopes and sexes. 



273. As every flower-bud proceeds from the axil of a leaf, 

 either fully developed or rudimentary, it therefore occupies 

 exactly the same position with respect to the leaf as a leaf- 

 bud. 



274. The leaf from the axil of which a flower-bud arises, is 

 called bract or flower-leaf ; and all rudimentary leaves, of 

 what size or colour soever, which appear on the peduncle (284) 

 between the floral leaf and the calyx (325), are called Iracteola 

 or bractlets. 



275. But, in common language, botanists constantly con- 

 found these two kinds, which are, nevertheless, essentially 

 distinct. 



276. Although the buds in the axils of bracts are often not 

 developed, yet they have the same power of developement as 

 those in the axils of leaves ; they are generally flower-buds, 

 very rarely leaf-buds. 



277. When a single bract is rolled together, highly deve- 

 loped, and coloured, and is placed at the base of that form of 

 inflorescence called a spadix (304), it is named spathe ; Ex. 

 Arum. 



278. When several bracts are verticillate or densely imbri- 

 cated around the base of the forms of inflorescence, called the 

 umbel or capitulum (306), they receive the name of involucre ; 

 Ex. Carrot, Daisy. 



279. When the bracts of an involucre form a single whorl, 

 and cohere by their margins, it is impossible to distinguish 

 them from the calyx by any other mark than by their position, 

 and by their usually surrounding more flowers than one. 



280. The minute or colourless bracts at the base of the 

 florets of a capitulum (306) are called pale*. 



281. Small imbricated bracts are often called scales. 



282. Bracts, when placed immediately below the sexes, 

 as in apetalous flowers, are only distinguished from the 

 calyx by being alternate with each other, and not verticil- 

 late ; hence the glumes and paleee of grasses are bracts and 

 not calyx. 



283. The axis of the flower-bud in its natural state does 



D2 



