108 ALTERATION OF POSITION. 
it is a normal and constant occurrence, while in other 
cases, such as Filago germanica, usually described as 

Fria. 53.—Lateral prolification in inflorescence of Pelurgonium. 
proliferous, there is not, strictly speaking, any prolifi- 
cation, for the branching of the stalk takes place below 
the inflorescence, and the branches originate from the 
axils of ordinary leaves, not from the floral leaves or 
bracts. Convolvulus Sepiwm is very commonly subject 
to the production of flower-buds from the axils of the 
floral leaves. The several species of Plantain (Plantago) 
seem very liable to this and similar changes. Schlech- 
tendal' gives a summary of the various kinds of malfor- 
mation affecting the inflorescence in Plantugo, and 
divides them into five groups, as follows:—1st, bracteate, 
wherein the inferior bracts are quite leaf-like, as is 
frequently seen in Plantago major. 2nd, roseate ; bracts 
leafy in tufts or rosettes, without flowers, as in the 
so-called rose plantain, common in old-fashioned 
gardens in this country. 3rd, polystachyate; spike- 
branched, bearing other spikes in the axils of the bracts, 
as in P. lanceolata, P. maritima, &c. 4th, proliferous, 
where the flower-stalk bears a rosette, a spike, or a 
1 «Bot. Zeit.,’ 1857, p. 873. See also ‘Verhandl. Nat. Hist. Vereins. 
Preuss. Rheinl. u. Westphal.,’ 1854, t. 1x. 
