40 



(6) Helicoid cyme. The main axis here terminates in 

 a flower as before, but the further growth of the 

 inflorescence is carried on, not by 2 or 3 equally 

 vigorous lateral branches, but by one only, the 

 latter also soon terminates in a flower and 

 produces another lateral branch and so on, the 

 lateral branches always developing on the same 

 side of the parent axis. 



(c) Scorpioid cyme. This is similar to (b) but the lateral 

 branch, instead of always developing on the same 

 side of the parent axis, develops alternately on 

 opposite sides. 



In both (b) and (c) there is thus a sympodium, or false axis. 

 When this false axis straightens, as it usually does, the inflores- 

 cence has a strong superficial resemblance to one of the racemose 

 type. In such cases the position of the bracts often indicates 

 at once the true character of the inflorescence, for the flower 

 stalks, instead of springing from the axils of the bracts, as they 

 would do in a raceme, are opposite to the bracts. 



A Fascicle is a general term for a tuft or cluster of 

 flowers, or of flowering shoots, without reference to 

 its being of the racemose or cymose type, and is used 

 when the true character of the inflorescence is not 

 easily made out. 



Panicle is a much used term which is applied to all 

 compound and much branched inflorescences of which 

 the first ramifications are racemose. A panicle 

 which is ovate or lanceolate in outline is called a 

 thyrsus. 



A cyme which, in outline and general appearance, resem- 

 bles a raceme, corymb, or umbel, is called a racemiform, co- 

 rymbiform, or umbelliform cyme, and similarly a panicle may 

 be racemiform, corymbiform, or umbelliform. 



For illustrations of some of the above types of inflorescen- 

 ces see Figs. 1 tu 10, Plate X. 



Finally there are the more complicated so-called mixed 

 inflorescences in which more than one type is combined. 

 Thus the ultimate ramifications of a panicle, the first branches 

 of which are developed according to the racemose type, may 

 be cymes, and such a panicle may be described as a cymose 

 panicle, or, perhaps better, we may describe the inflorescence 

 as one consisting of cymes arranged in a panicle. 



If the student will examine for himself the following 

 examples of typical inflorescences, they will help him to 



