102 ACADEMIC BOTANV. 



bisexual. Wheat, Tuberose, Banana (Fig. 60), Plantain 

 (Fig. 136). Tlie Hop has a strohiloid (cone-like) spike. 



216. In the Grasses the spike i§ called an Ear ; the " ears of corn" 

 in Holy Scripture are spikes of Wheat, Kye, etc. ; they are slill called 

 ears — all the small grains are called com — hy all English-speaking 

 peoples except those of the United States, who restrict these terms 

 to the Indian Corn: When the spikes branch, the branches are called 

 SpikeUts (Figs. 51, 52). 



217. Raceme. Rachis slender, lengthened ; flowers 

 petalous, bisexual, with pedicels of nearly equal length. 

 Currant, Wistaria, Willow-Herb (Fig. 75). When the 

 flowers are all turned towards one side, the raceme is 

 secund, as in the Lily of the Valley (Fig. 138). When 

 the pedicels branch slightly, the raceme is compound, as in 

 Mignonette. 



218. Panicle. A raceme (or a spike) with many branch- 

 ing pedicels of varying lengths. Oats (Fig. 51), Rice, 

 Agave, Sumach. 



219. Thyrsus. A compact ovoid (egg-shaped) panicle, 

 with the apex of its rachis slightly reduced. Vine (Fig. 

 101). 



220. Indefinite or racemose Corymb. A raceme with the 

 apex of its rachis reduced so that the lowest pedicels are 

 longest, giving the inflorescence a rounded top. St. Lucia's 

 Cherry. When the pedicels branch, the corymb is com- 

 pound. Spiraea corymbosa. 



221. Umbel. Rachis reduced to a flat or rounded sur- 

 face at the apex of the common peduncle ; all the pedicels 

 — which are nearly of equal length — spring from this sur- 

 face, like the sticks or ribs of an umbrella, whence the 

 Latin name umbella. Flowering Rush (Fig. 58). When 

 the pedicels branch and bear other umbels, these secondary 

 clusters are called Umbdlets (Fig. 139). 



