WILD FLOWERS OF NEW YORK 21 



A spadix is a spikelike inflorescence with a fleshy stalk and with sessile 

 flowers; the floral leaf or bract which subtends it or surrounds it partially 

 is called the spathe (Skunk Cabbage, Wild Calla). 



A panicle, or compound raceme (figure 50), is formed by the arrange- 

 ment of flowers along the plant stem, similar to a raceme, but each flower 

 stem has two or more branches. 



Head (figure 53), an arrangement of flowers compactly on a common 

 receptacle and surrounded by bracts (involucral bracts). 



Modification and arrangement of the [yerianth: 



Among the simpler groups of flowering plants the perianth is wanting, 

 as in the Cat-tail and Willow. In the Sweet Flag, Oak and others, the 

 perianth consists of a few scales, but in the higher plants, the perianth 

 appears as a conspicuous portion of the flower, as in the Lily. Finally, as 

 in the Rose family, there appears a clearly differentiated calyx and corolla. 



In the simpler types of flowers, the sepals, petals and the stamens 

 arise at the top of the receptacle. Such flowers are called hypogynous, 

 meaning the insertion of these parts below the ovary (figure 56) . 



When the basal portion of the receptacle is continued upward, forms 

 a ctxp-shaped growth around the ovary and bears the sepals, petals and 

 stamens upon its margin, the flower is called perigynous (figures 57 and 59), 

 meaning the insertion of the parts of the flower around the ovary. 



Frequently the growth of the receptacle adheres to the ovary, and the 

 sepals, petals and stamens appear to arise from above the position of the 

 ovary, in which case the flower is called epigynous (figure 58), meaning 

 above the ovary. 



There may be varying degrees of cohesion or uiiion of the parts of one 

 or both of the floral envelopes (perianth). When the sepals are united with 

 each other the calyx is said to be gamosepalous, while a gamopetalous 

 corolla (figvires 62, 63, 64 and 65) refers to a union of the petals, as in the 

 flower of the Morning-glory. 



The degree of coalescence or union of parts of a gamopetalous corolla, 



