144 PRACTICAL COURSE IN BOTANY 
Fic. 173.— Scorpioid cyme. 
or coiled inflorescence of the pink-root (Spigelia), heliotrope, 
comfrey, etc. Its structure will be made clear by an inspec- 
tion of Figs. 174-176. 
174 175 
Fias. 174-176. — Diagrams of cymose inflorescence, with flowers numbered in the 
order of their development: 174, cyme half developed (scorpioid) ; 175, a flat-topped 
or corymbose cyme ; 176, development of a typical cyme. 
163. The nature of flower stems.— A comparison of 
the types of inflorescence with the modes of branching in 
ordinary stems (144, 152, 153) will show a strict corre- 
spondence between them. Both bear leaves and buds, and 
the individual flowers of a cluster usually spring from the 
