MIXED INFLORESCENCES 



93 



upon the axis they must spring from lateral axillary buds below 

 the apex. Usually each axis bears one, two, or a few branches 

 only, which grow more vigorously and overtop the main one : 

 these lateral axes terminate in iiowers and repeat the same form 

 of branching. The terminal flower of the main axis opens first, 

 and is followed by those terminating the secondary, tertiary, and 

 other axes in regular succession. 



There are a number of complicated forms of cymose inflores- 



monest simpler types being : — 

 chasium {A and B^ Fig. 42) in which 

 its successive branches have each 



cences the com 



(i) The mono 

 the main axis and 

 only one lateral 

 branch ; exam- 

 ples occur in 

 forget - me - not 

 (Myosotis), rock 

 rose (Helianthe- 

 mum), and some 

 species of Ger- 

 anium. 



(ii) The dicha- ^ ^ ^ ^ . . „ , „ 



^ ' FiG. 42. — Cymose or definite inflorescences. A and B, Mono- 



siuvi or forked chasia ; C, dichasium : r, main axis ; 2, 3, 4, and 5, axis of second, 

 third, fourth, and fifth orders respectively. 



cyme (C, Fig. 42) 



in which the main axis has two lateral branches, and each of the 

 latter again bear two branches ; examples are met with in stitch- 

 worts {Stellaria) and centaury (Erythrced). 



(iii) The polychasium in which more than two secondary 

 branches are given off from the main axis and below each flower 

 of the inflorescence ; examples of polychasia are seen in many 

 spurges (^Euphorbia). 



III. Mixed Inflorescences 

 are frequent in which the first branches of the main axis exhibit 

 a racemose arrangement, while the subsequent branches are 

 cymose in character, and vice-versd. 



