CHAPTER XVII 



ANTHOTAXY 



The arrangement of flowers is called their Anthotaxy, and this name 

 is also applied to the study of inflorescences. 



The Inflorescence. — That part of a stem or branch which bears the 

 flowers, or the flower when solitary, is more or less distinctly modified 

 in form, surface, modification of its leaves, extent and character of 

 branching, and frequently also in the direction taken in the arrange- 

 ment of its parts. In connection with its flowers it is called the Inflor- 

 escence. 



The stem of an Inflorescence, that is, the portion which is below its 

 lowest point of branching or flowering, or below the flower when solitary, 

 is called the Peduncle {a in Figs. 576 and 583). This name is also 

 applied to the corresponding portion of a branch of an inflorescence if 

 that branch bear more than one flower, it being in that case a Secondary 

 Peduncle (Fig. 584, d). 



The Rachis. — If the peduncle is continued above its first point of 

 branching, in the form of a central support along which the succeeding 

 branches or the flowers are arranged, this portion is called the Rachis 

 (Figs. 583 above a and 586, a). 



The Scape. — A peduncle \\'inch rises directly from or near the ground 

 is called a Scape (Fig. 576, a). 



The Pedicel. — The stem of one of the indi\'idual flowers of an inflor- 

 escence of more than one flower is called a Pedicel (c, in Fig. 584). A 

 flower or an inflorescence may be devoid of pedicel or peduncle, when 

 it is Sessile. 



The arrangement of the inflorescence-leaves and their floral branches, 

 while based upon the phyllotaxy, and traceable thereto in most cases, 

 exhibits more or less real or apparent departure therefrom, and calls 

 for special designations and classification. 



The Determinate form of Anthotaxy. — The forms of flowering are 

 divided into two series in accordance with the apical or lateral location 

 of the initial flower — that is, the flower which is first in order of develop- 

 ment. If the terminal bud develop into a flower (Fig. 57(5) its further 



