14 



CHAPTER TV, 



INFLORESCENCE. 



48. INFLORESCENTIA, the Inflorescence or Mode of 

 Flowering, expresses the manner in which Flowers 

 are situated upon a plant. It is essential, though of 

 temporary duration, and comes under the following 

 denominations. 



1. Verticillus, a Whorl, when the Flowers form a 

 ring round the stem, though perhaps inserted on 

 two of its opposite sides, or even on one only. 



2. Racemus, a Cluster, consists of scattered Flowers, 

 each on its own proper stalk (22), connected by 

 one common stalk (20), all nearly in perfection 

 together. A Cluster is sometimes compound ; or 

 aggregate like Act&a racemosa. 



3. Spica, a Spike, is composed of many Flowers, 

 sessile, or nearly so (21), on one common stalk, 

 sometimes branched, generally very erect ; the 

 flowers opening in succession ; sometimes unila- 

 teral (34). Spicula, a Spikelet, is the inflores- 

 cence of such Grasses, as have many florets in one 

 calyx. 



4. Corymbus, a Corymb, a kind of Cluster (48 :2), 

 whose partial stalks are gradually longer down- 

 wards, so that the flowers they bear are nearly 



