CHAPTER VIII 

 ANGIOSPERM^ 



INFLORESCENCE 



Each flower of a plant may be solitary, either in a terminal 

 position, as in the Tulip, or in the axil of a foliage-leaf, as in the 

 Poor-man's Weather-glass. On the other hand, a plant may 

 have its flowers grouped together and subtended by simplified 

 leaves in place of foliage-leaves. Such a group of flowers is 

 described as an inflorescence. The distinction between a flower 

 and an inflorescence lies in the circumstance that the axis of a 

 flower is unbranched, whereas the axis of an inflorescence is 

 branched. The axis of a flower bears floral leaves ; whereas 

 the axis of an inflorescence bears lateral shoots in the axils of 

 bracts. We may therefore define an inflorescence as a branched 

 shoot set apart for the purpose of accomplishing reproduction 

 by means of seeds. Like a vegetative stem, the main axis of 

 an inflorescence may be continuous with the axis of a foliaged 

 shoot, in which case it is said to be terminal — e.g. Foxglove 

 and Wallflower ; or the inflorescence may arise in the axil of a 

 leaf, when it is described as axillary — e.g. Pea and Hazel. 



Just as a vegetative stem may branch in a racemose or a 

 cymose manner, so may a reproductive axis. Remembering 

 that a flower represents a simple shoot, and occupies the 

 position of bud, it is easy to define racemose and cymose 

 inflorescences (compare page 26). 



A. RACEMOSE INFLORESCENCES. 



In this type of inflorescence the main axis grows more 

 strongly than its lateral axes, and bears a considerable number 

 of branches. These branches may themselves be flowers, as 

 in the Hyacinth, in which case the inflorescence is said to be 

 of the simple racemose type. Or the main inflorescence-axis 



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