Inflorescence 



93 



the special scaly bracts which enclose the flowers of the Grass 

 and Sedge tribes t^xq pales and glumes. 



If the bracts fall before, or soon after, the flower opens, they 

 are deciduous ; whilst if they remain (sometimes even to the 

 ripening of the fruit), persistent. 



If bracts be present, the plant is said to be bracteate ; if 

 absent, ebracteate. 



Fig. 145. — Simple raceme of 

 Antirrhinum jnajus. 



Fig. 146.— Longitudinal section through the capi- 

 tulum of the Burdock {^Arctium Lappa). 



The term inflorescence is employed to describe the arrange- 

 ment of the flowers upon the stem. In some cases, as in the 

 Tulip, there is a single flower at the top of the stalk, no others 

 being formed below. The inflorescence is then said to be 

 single-flowered. More often there are several flowers variously 

 arranged. Inflorescences are divided under two heads. 



If we examine such a bunch of flowers as the Snapdragon 

 (fig. 145), or Wallflower, or Stock, we find that the oldest flowers 

 are towards the base, the younger ones being towards the apex. 

 Such an inflorescence is said to be indefinite. Sometimes in 

 the indefinite inflorescences, as in the Burdock (fig. 146), or 

 Thistle, or Dandelion, the flowers instead of being arranged 



