SECTION 8.] 



INPLOEESCENCE. 



73 



201. When flowers thus arise singly from the axils of ordinary leaves, 

 they are axillary and solitary, not collected into flower-clusters. 



202. But when several or many flowers are produced near each other, 

 the accompanying leaves are 

 apt to be of smaller size, or of 

 different shape or character : 

 then they are called Beacts, 

 and the flowers thus brought ; 

 together form a cluster. The 

 kinds of flower-clusters of the 

 indeterminate class have re- 

 ceived distinct names, according to their form and disposition. They are 

 principally Raceme, Corymb, Umbel, Spike; Head, Spadix, Catkin, and 

 Panicle. 



203. In defining these it will be necessary to use some of the following 

 terms of descriptive botany which relate to inflorescence. If a flower is 

 stalkless, i. e. sits directly in the axil or other support, it is said to be 

 sessile. If raised on a naked stalk of its own (as in Fig. 199) it is pedun- 

 culate, and the stalk is a Peduncle. 



204. 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 a 

 Pedicel. The portion of the general stalk along which 

 flowers are disposed is called the AMs of inflorescence, or, 

 when covered with sessile flowers, the Rhachis (back-bone), 

 and sometimes the Receptacle. The leaves of a flower-cluster 

 generally are termed Bracts. But when bracts of different 

 orders are to be distinguished, those on the common pedun- 

 cle or axis, and which have a flower in their axil, keep the 

 name of bracts ; and those on the pedicels or partial flower- 

 stalks, if any, that of Bractlets or Bracteoles. The for- 

 mer is the preferable English name. 



205. A Raceme (Fig. 200) is that form of flower-cluster 

 in which the flowers, each on their own foot-stalk or pedicel, 

 are arranged along the sides of a common stalk or axis of 

 inflorescence; as in the Lily of the Valley, Currant, Bar- 

 berry, one section of Cherry, etc. Each flower comes 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 Mustard Family) disappears altogether. The lowest blossoms of a 



Fio. 199. Piece of a flowering-stem of Moneywort (Lysiniachia nummnlaria,) 

 with single flowers successively produced In the axils of the leaves, from helow 

 upwards, as the stem grows on. 



Fio. 200. A raceme, with a general peduncle (p), pedicels {p'), bracts (i), and 

 bractlets (V). Plainly 'the bracts Ifere. answer to the leaves in Fig. 199. 



