INFLORESCENCE. 



03 



2d. Raceme, (Fig. SS, a,) consists of numerous flowers, each on 

 its own stalk, and 1x11 arranged on o)ie common peduncle, as in the 

 locust and currant. 



3d. PciHicle, (Fig. SS, h,) bears the flowers in a kind of loose, sub- 

 divided bunch or cluster, without any regular order ; as in the oat. 

 and some other grasses. A panicle contracted into a compact, some- 

 what ovate form, as in the lilac, is called a thyrse, as a bunch of grapes. 



Fig. 88. 



4th. Spike, (Fig. 89, a,) this is an assemblage of flowers arising 

 from the sides of a common stem ; the flowers are sessile or with 



very short peduncles; as the 

 grasses and mullein. A spike 

 is generally erect. The lowest 

 flowers usually blossom and 

 fade before the upper ones ex- 

 pand. When the flo^wers in a 

 spike are crowded very close, 

 an ear is formed, as in Indian 

 com. 



5th. Umbel, '(Fig. 89, b,) con- 

 sists of several flower-stalks, 

 of nearly equal length, spread- 

 ing out from a common cen- 

 tre, like the rays of an umbrel- 

 la, bearing flowers on their 

 summits; as fennel and carrot. 



Fig. 89. 



Raceme — Panicle— Spike— Umbel. 



