too 



MANUAL OF BOTANY 



Sometimes several carpels are fused together by their ed 

 forming a chamber which may or may not be' septated by 

 partitions. A chamber of somewhat similar appearance is found 

 in certain Perns {Marsilea). 



In most cases above the Perns the sporophore forms a distinct 

 branch system, easily distinguishable from the vegetative one. 

 In consequence of its ultimate shoots taking the form of flowers, 

 it is known as the inflorescence. It shows a very great variety 

 of form, depending on the mode of branching and the relative 



Fig. 191. 



Fig. 191. Flowering stalk of the White Dead-nettle {Lammm album), 

 with leafy bracts nud verticillasters in their axils. 



development of its several parts. These varieties must be 

 treated of in some detail. 



As in the case of the vegetative branch system, we have to 

 discuss the axis and its ramifications, and the leaves which are 

 borne upon it. The latter are aU more or less specialised, but 

 fall into two categories, the leaves of the flower or ultimate 

 branch, and thoSe of the axis apart from the flower, which are 

 included under the general term hract, or hypsophyll. It will 

 be convenient to examine the latter first. 



