THE FLOWER. ao 127 
When we consider the admirable regularity and the rigorous laws 
by which leaves are arranged on the boughs, we are led @ priori to 
confess that the distribution of flowers on their vegetable axes 
must obey very determinate laws also. This is, in fact, what is 
Fig. 142.—Inflorescence in the sheath of ig. 143.—Branchi the Oat 
Vervein Omcbatn Fig. 143.—Branching raceme of the Oat. 
shown us by nature. Her laws are generally easily recognised 
and though sometimes hidden, are never violated. Flowers are 
always the termination of an axis, branch, or bough, and the order 
governing their arrangement is only a repetition of that which 
regulates the ramification of the plant. 
