296 



BRACTS, INVOLUCRE, SPATHE. 



commonly form a whorl of three or more leaflets, where the 

 flower-stem first divides; and other smaller whorls are seen, 



FIG. 93. INVOLUCRE: OF A PHLOX AND CHINESE PRIMROSE. 



where the second subdivisions take place. Such whorls are 

 usually termed involucres. Where a single large bract encloses 



the flower-stalk and bud 

 before its expansion, this is 

 usually termed a spathe. 

 This is seen in the Snow- 

 drop, Onion, Narcissus, &e. 

 The Spathe is peculiarly 

 large in the Palms, where 

 it often has to enclose a large 

 branch loaded with flowers. 

 It is of great size also in the 

 Arum, enclosing tho central 

 pillar termed the spadix, on 

 which the flowers are clus- 

 tered ; in the common 

 Wake-robin (or Lords and 

 Ladies) of our hedges, this 



FIG. 94. SPATHE OF NARCISSUS AND ARCM. ' , 



spathe is green ; but in 



divide and subdivide in such a manner as to produce the peculiar form termed 

 an umbel, which is seen in the Hemlock, Carrot, Parsley, &c. 



