CHAPTER VII. 



THE INFLORESCENCE. 



In many plants the flowers are borne singly and terminally at the 

 end of the main axis, as in the poppy, or singly and laterally in 

 the axils of the foliage-leaves of the stem or its branches, as in 

 pimpernel and ivy-leaved speedwell. Such flowers are described 

 as solitary. In most instances, however, flowers are grouped 

 more or less compactly together on a special shoot or axis of the 

 plant, as in the hollyhock, foxglove and hyacinth ; such a flower- 

 bearing shoot with its flowers is termed an inflorescence, and the 

 leaves upon it, in the axils of which the flowers arise, are known 

 as bracts (see p. 73). The axis of the inflorescence is termed 

 the rachis ox peduncle, and the individual flower-stalks are called 

 pedicels (/, Fig. 39), the leaf-like structures upon the pedicels 

 being spoken of as bracteoles or prophylla. 



A great variety of forms of inflorescence are met with differing 

 in their manner of branching, the length and thickness of their 

 axes, the presence or absence of pedicels, and in many other 

 particulars. They are conveniently divided into two groups, 

 namely (i) racemose or indefinite, and (2) cymose or definite 

 inflorescences, in accordance with the principles of branching 

 described on pp. 40 and 41. 



I. Racemose Inflorescences. 



In this type of inflorescence the main axis, or rachis, bears 

 either lateral sessile flowers, or flowers with pedicels, developed 

 in acropetal succession, that is, the youngest flowers are nearest 



8, 



