THE STUDY OF FLOWERS AND FRUIT 31 



In this book the word stalk is practically used through- 

 out. 



Arrangement of Flowers. — Flowers are called solitary 

 when but a single blossom is found at the tip of a branch, 

 whether it be the tip of the plant or the tip of an axillary- 

 growth from a leaf of the plant. They are clustered if 

 more than one is found in either position. There are a few 

 forms of clusters so common that their names are here 

 given. Probably the commonest form of cluster is that of 

 a raceme ; in this a number of flowers on individual short 

 stems branch at different points along the main stalk. If 

 these stems all extend from the tip, an umbel is formed; 

 if from nearly, but not quite the same place, the whole 

 forms a rather flat cluster, and a corymb is the result. If 

 a second division occurs before flowers are found, all of 

 these forms above are said to be compound; the compound 

 raceme is so common that panicle is the word describ- 

 ing it. 



Besides these clusters of flowers, where the individual 

 blossoms have appreciable stalks, there are two cases where 

 the blossoms are about sessile; if the cluster is elongated, 

 it forms a spike, and if rounded, a head. There is a form 

 of spike so common on shrubs and trees that a word to de- 

 note it is important and will occasionally be found in the 

 text — the word catkin. The birches, willows, oaks, hazel- 

 nuts, etc., have catkins. These are usually slender clusters 

 drooping from the twigs and consist of male flowers. The 

 catkins are so ornamental in some of the willows that 

 the name pussy willows is given to the plants. Flat-topped 

 clusters with an older central flower on each branch are 

 called cymes. 



The Fruit. — The part formed from the ovary of a flower 

 is in general called the fruit. Fruits are divided into 

 dry fruits and fleshy fruits. So far all is easy to any one; 

 but the full classification of either fleshy or dry fruits, as 

 given in the text-books of botany, is difficult; and in the 

 most advanced books there are found many points of the 



