436 ELONGATION OF THE 
the peduncles or pedicels, and sometimes alters the. 
general character of the inflorescence very considerably, 
converting a spike into a raceme, a raceme into a 
corymb, a capitulum into an umbel, and so forth. <A 
few such cases may here be alluded to. Fig. 206 re- 

Fic. 206.—Inflorescence of Ranunculus acris, with secondary peduncles 
lengthened. 
presents a specimen of Ranunculus acris, 1 which the 
lower and lateral flower-stalks were not only increased 
in number, but so much lengthened as to form a flat- 
topped inflorescence—a corymbose cyme. In many 
leguminous plants, as in Trifoliwm repens, Lotus cori- 
culatus, &c., what is usually a compact spike, or head 
