THE CYMOSE TYPE. 161 



posterior one to a simple axis in Monocotyledons, and two 

 transverse ones in Dicotyledons, i. e. one to the right and the 

 other to the left of the subtending bract, Fig. 306, V b'. When 

 the latter form a pair, they are perhaps always truly transverse ; 

 when alternate, they stand more or less on the opposite sides and 

 transverse. When more than one in Monocotyledons, they may 

 become either median or transverse, or even intermediate. The 

 relation of bractlets or bract, that is, of the last leaves of inflo- 

 rescence, to the first of the blossom, might be considered either 

 under Phyllotaxy or under Floral Symmetry. In general, it 

 may be noted that successive members stand over the widest 

 intervals ; 1 in other words, that the first leaf of the flower is as 

 far away as may be from the highest bractlet. For instance, 

 when there is a single and posterior bractlet, as is common in 

 Monocotyledons, the first leaf of the flower is anterior, the 

 next two right and left at 120. When there is a single and 

 lateral bractlet and five leaves in the first circle of the flower 

 (which occurs only in Dicotyledons) , the first leaf of this circle 

 is either exactly on the opposite side from the bract, or at a 

 divergence of two fifths, the latter falling into the continuous 

 spiral. When with a pair of bractlets, right and left, the first 

 flower-leaf is at divergence from one (the uppermost) of them 

 when the circle is of three, or at when of five members, or near 

 it ; but with many exceptions. 2 



A tabular view of the kinds of inflorescence and their termi- 

 nology, serving as a key, may aid the student. 8 



latter, being the leaves which the new axis first bears, Vbrblatter, which is 

 also the name they apply to primordial leaves in germination. 



1 In accordance with Hofmeister's law ; but (as Eichler remarks) not to 

 be explained on his mechanical principle of production in this place because 

 of the greater room : for the position of the first member of an axillary 

 flower is mostly the same as regards the subtending bract when the bractlets 

 are wanting. 



2 When bractlets are wanting, the leaves of the first floral circle if two 

 are right and left ; if three, two lateral-posterior and one anterior ; when 

 five, the odd one commonly in the median line, either anterior or posterior. 



8 INFLORESCENCE is either PURE, all of one type, or MIXED, of the two types 



combined. The Types are : 



I. Main axis not arrested and terminated by a flower. Indeterminate, Indefi- 

 nite, Acropetal or Ascending, Centripetal, or BOTRYOSE. 



II. Main and lateral axes arrested and terminated by a flower. Determinate, 

 Definite, Descending, Centrifugal, or CYMOSE. 



