INFLORESCENCES 297 



same period of time, and thus the more pollination will be 

 accomplished. Also a cluster of flowers, being more con- 

 spicuous than single ones, may serve better to attract 

 the insects. The most successful of all the families of 

 seed plants is that family whose flowers are most closely 

 clustered together. They are pollinated by insects. This 

 family is named Composite from the fact that what ap- 

 pears to be the flower is really a composite of many small 

 flowers clustered very closely together. Daisies and dande- 

 lions are examples of these " flowers " of Composite which 

 are really inflorescences. They are composed of many 

 small flowers arranged in that compact type of inflorescence 

 which is called a head. (Other things besides the close 

 clustering of their flowers have undoubtedly had to do with 

 the great success of the Composite.) 



The advantage in connection with pollination is not the 

 only advantage of inflorescences. Other advantages ap- 

 pear in connection with the scattering of seeds. 



B. Kinds. — To classify all the kinds of inflorescences is 

 not simple and it is not important. But the names given 

 to the principal kinds are names you should understand. 

 They are frequently used in descriptions. 



All inflorescences belong to one or the other of two general 

 types, the determinate type and the indeterminate type. 

 The flowers of an inflorescence do not all open at the same 

 time; usually buds may be found along with the open 

 flowers. If the youngest flowers or buds are in the center 

 or at the tip of the inflorescence, it is of the indeterminate 

 type. Most inflorescences are of this type. They can go 

 on blooming somewhat indefinitely or indeterminately ; 

 shepherd's-purse and the common peppergrass are ex- 



