MORPHOLOGY OF EEPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 107 



modifications, and a third class is not uncommonly met with, 

 which, as it includes both modes of branching, is commonly 

 spoken of as mixed mflorescence. 



Before discussing the different forms of these, there are cer- 

 tain peculiarities and varieties of the axis itself which we must 

 consider. 



The texxn peduncle is applied to the stalk of a solitary flower, 



Fig. 204. 



Fig. 20.J 



r>'i<l, 204. Hypanthodium of the Fig (Incus Carica), 

 showing pear-shaped fleshy receptacle bearing 



flowers on its inner surface. Fig. 205. Ccen- 



anthiiim of a species of Dorstenia, Fig. 206. 



Female plant of VaJiisneria spiralis, with its 

 flowers arranged on spiral peduncles. 



whether axillary (fig. 192, b, b) or terminal [fig. 200), or to a 

 floral axis which bears a number of sessile flowers [figs. 212 

 and 213) ; if the floral axis branches and each branch bears a 

 flower {figs. 210 and 211), the main axis is still called B.]ped%incle, 

 and the stalk of each flower a pedicel ; or if the axis be still 

 further subdivided, the general name of peduncle is applied 

 to the whole, with the exception of the stalks immediately 

 supporting the flowers, which are in all cases called pedicels. 

 "When the floral axis is thus branched, it is better to speak of 

 the main axis as the primary axis (fig. 211, a'), its divisions 



