26 



ELEMENTS OF BOTANY. 



A raceme is an inflorescence in which nearly equal secondary axes 

 rise along the primary one ; it is simple when the secondary axes tenni- 

 uate in a single liower (Fig. 38) ; compound when they branch before 



Fig. 38. — Simiile nicemo of the red currant. 



Fig. 39. — Corymb of a cherry. 



flowering. A con^Moiiud raceme is tenned a panicle. A panicle of an 

 ovoid shape, havi ig the central pedicels longer than the outei", is called a 

 thyrse. 



Fig. 40. — A compound corymb. 



A corymb resembles a raceme, but has its lower pedicels longer than 

 the upper ones, thus bringuig the flowers upon a level with each other. It 

 may be simple (Fig. 39) or compoimd (Fig. 40). 



An umbel has its secondary axes diverging from the same point, like 



