THE APPENDAGES. 19 



4. The Involucre (Fig. 88.) is a kind of bractea, consisting 

 of several leaves, placed at a distance from the flower. When 

 at the base of a common or general umbel, it is called the 

 Common Involucre (Kg. 89, a.) ; and when at the base of a 

 partial umbel, the Partial Involucre. (Fig. 90, b.) The same 

 name is now generally given to the calyx of the compound 

 flowers. 



5. The Tendril or Cirrus (Fig. 90, 78.), a thread-like 

 organ, a prolongation of the midrib or veins of the leaves, which 

 serves to attach plants to some support. It may be simple or 

 divided. 



6. Glands, small round bodies which secrete fluids. 



7. The Thorn or Spine (Fig. 91.), an acute appendage which 

 arises from the wood, being in fact an abortive branch. It may 

 be terminal, situated at the point of a branch ; axillar, at the 

 origin of the branch ; simple or branched. 



8. The Prickle (Fig. 92.), a pointed production which arises 

 from the bark, having no connexion with the wood. 



9. Hairs, slender bodies of various degrees of fineness, by 

 which the surfaces of plants are covered. They are generally 

 simple, sometimes branched in various degrees. 



OF THE FLOWER-STALK AND INFLORESCENCE. 



The Flower-stalk or Peduncle is the more or less slender 

 body by which the flower is connected with the stem or other 

 parts of the plant. When it arises from the root, it is called a 

 Scape or Radical Peduncle (Fig. 19.), as already mentioned. 

 When it springs from the stem, it is 



Lateral, when situated on the side. 



Terminal, when it terminates a stem or branch. 



Axillar, when it grows between a leaf and the stem, or be- 

 tween a branch and the stem. 



Opposite to a leaf, or to another flower-stalk. 



Solitary, when there is only one in the same place. 



Clustered, when several grow together. 



Scattered, irregularly distributed. 



A Flower-stalk maybe one-, two-, three-, or many-flowered. 



When it is branched or otherwise divided, the principal stalk 

 is called the General flower-stalk or Peduncle; the ultimate 

 divisions are Partial flower-stalks or Pedicles. 



When the flowers are destitute of stalks, they are said to be 

 Sessile, or sitting. 



