344 THE CROWFOOT FAMILY 



cyme.^ The inflorescence of the marsh-marigold is a simple 

 cyme. A well-developed cyme is found in certain species of 

 clematis. Here, as shown in Fig. 290, the axes repeatedly 

 branch, making the c^'me compound. In compound inflores- 

 cences the ultimate flower-stalks are called pedicels.- A whorl 

 or cluster of bracts is an iiwalucre;^ while the term inrolucel ■■ 

 is applied to a whorl of bractlets. Thus the wood-anemony 

 has an involucre of three leaf -like bracts situated far below the 

 solitary flower. These are called bracts because in related 

 species liracts similarly placed sul)tend peduncles, although 

 as must be obvious the distinction l^etween bracts and bract- 

 lets in such cases is rather arbitrary. Fennel-flower has an 

 involucel of a few large bractlets very near the blossom. 

 iVIost of the crowfoot family have simple, cymose inflores- 

 cences, usually <jf only a few flowers as in crowfoots, colum- 

 bines, and the Christmas rose. Often, even iii the genera 

 mentioned, the flowers may be solitary, and this is usually if 

 not always the case in mouse-tails, aiiemonies, fennel-flowers, 

 and peonies. 



In contrast with these determinate inflorescences in which 

 the terminal, upper, or iimer flowers are the older, are in- 

 florescences of the indeterminate type shown in baneberries 

 and monkshoods. Here the up])er flowers are the younger, 

 and the main axis or rachi.'< ■' ma>' elongate indefinitel}', 

 developing new flowers as it grows. When, as in the ex- 

 amples given, the main axis is longer than the peduncles, 

 the cluster is termed a raceme.'' So typical is this of the 

 indeterminate form of inflorescence that the term hoirijo.se ' 

 of similar implication is given to it as being in significant 

 contrast with cyinose. 



From the above it appears that in describing and naming 

 inflorescences botanists have regard either to the manner in 



' Cyme < Gr. l-ymn, a yoiinn sprout, l)ec:uise the younger flowers 

 arise like sprouts from below. (Pronounced xlein.) 



^ Ped'-i-eel < L. peilicrllux, diminutive of peiUculuK, dim. of pes, 

 pcitis, foot. 



■' In'-vo-lu-cre < L. iiii'iiluciniii , < iiirdli-cri', enwraj). 



* In-vol'-u-(.'el < L. inniiiicrllinii, a little wrapper. 



■'' Ila'-chi.s < Gr. ilmrliis, backbone. 



' Ra-eeme' < L. rm-rmiix, a liunch of srapes. 



' Bot'-ry-ose < Gr. holrtix, a bunch of grapes. 



