140 



THE FLOWER 



flower is stalkless, i.e. sits directly in tlie axil ov other support, it is said 

 to be sessile. If raised on a naked stalk of its own (as in Fig. 241), it 

 is pedunculale, and the stalk is a Peduxcle. 



291. A peduncle on which a flower cluster is raised is a common 

 peduncle. That which supports each separate flower of the cluster is a 

 partial peduncle, and is generally called the Pedicel. The portion 

 of the general stalk along which flowers are disposed is called the 

 axis of inflorescence, or, when covered with sessile flowers, the racliis 

 (backbone), and sometimes the receptacle. The leaves of a flower 

 cluster generally, are termed Bracts. But when bracts of dift'erent 

 orders are to be distinguished, those on the common peduncle or axis, 

 and with a flower in their axil, keep the name of bracts; and those 

 on the pedicels or partial flower stalks, if any, that of Bractlets. 



292. A Raceme (Fig. 242) is that form of flower cluster in which 

 the flow-ers, each on its own foot stalk or pedicel, are arranged along 

 the sides of a common stalk or axis of inflorescence ; as in the Lily 



of the Vallej', Currant, 

 Barberry, one section of 

 Cheri-y, etc. Each flower 

 conies from the axil of a 

 small leaf, or bract, which, 

 however, is often so small 

 that it might escape notice, 

 and even sometimes (as in 

 the jNIustard family) dis- 

 appears altogether. The lowest lilossoras of a raceme are of course 

 the oldest, and therefore open first, and the order of blossoming is 

 ascending. The summit never being stopped by a terminal flower, 

 may go on to grow, and often does so (as in the common Shep- 

 herd's Purse), producing lateral flowers one after another for many 

 weeks. 



293. A Corymb (Fig. 24o) is the same as a raceme, except that it 

 is flat and broad, either convex, or level-topped. That is, a raceme 

 becomes a corymb by lengthening the lower pedicels, while the upper- 

 niost remain shorter. The axis of a corymb is short in proportion to 

 the lower pedicels. By extreme shortening of the axis the corymb 

 may be converted into 



294. An Umbel (Fig. 214), as in the Milkweed, a sort of flower 

 cluster where the pedicels all spring apparently from the same point, 

 from the top of the peduncle, so as to resemble, when spreading, the 

 rays of an umbrella; whence the name. Here the pedicels are some- 

 times called the rai/s of the umbel. And the bracts, when brought 

 in this way into a cluster or circle, form what is called an Ixvolucre. 



295. The corymb and the umbel being more or less level-topped, 

 bringing the flowers into a horizontal plane or a convex form, the 



^fes^ 



242 



243 



244 



