232 ' A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY 
hypogynous (under the pistil), and in descriptions of flowers 
this condition is often called “ovary superior.’’ In many 
other flowers, on the other hand, the sepals, petals, and 
stamens all seem to be attached to the 
top of the ovary; that is, the ovary ap- 
pears beneath the flower (Fig. 218, B). 
Such a flower is called epigynous (upon 
the pistil), or described often as “ovary 
inferior.” This is a very important dis- 
tinction, because it characterizes great 
groups of plants; for example, all mem- 
bers of the Lily Family are hypogynous 
(Fig. 219), and all members of the Ama- 
ryllis and Iris Families are epigynous 
(Fig. 220). It is also interesting to note 
that all the plants of highest rank in 
their respective lines have epigynous 
flowers. 
139. Flower clusters.—In many cases 
: a single flower terminates the stem, or 
Fic. 220.—Snowflake, 3 e a 
withepigynous flow. flowers may occur in the axils of ordi- 
ec re rd nary leaves. But more frequently flow- 
BURGER. ers occur in definite clusters, which are 
characteristic and help to distinguish 
plants. It is unnecessary to enumerate all the forms of 
flower clusters and their names, but some of the more 
‘important may be noted. 
One of the most common kinds of elusters is that in 
which the flowers arise along an axis, resulting in a more 
or less elongated and often drooping cluster. This is 
called a raceme, and the flowers may be loosely or densely 
arranged (Fig. 221). If in such a cluster the flowers have 
no stalks, and rest directly on the axis, the cluster is calied 
a spike, as in the common plantain (Fig. 222). If the 
cluster is flat-topped, with the flower-stalks rising and 
