A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY 



hypogynous (under the pistil) , and in descriptions of flowers 

 this condition is often called "ovary superior." In many 

 other flowers, on the other hand, the sepals, petals, and 

 stamens all seem to be attached to the 

 top of the ovary; that is, the ovary ap- 

 pears beneath the flower (Fig. 218, B). 

 Such a flower is called epigynous (upon 

 the pistil), or described often as "ovary 

 inferior." This is a very important dis- 

 tinction, because it characterizes great 

 groups of plants; for example, all mem- 

 bers of the Lily Family are hypogynous 

 (Fig. 219), and all members of the Ama- 

 ryllis and Iris Families are epigynous 

 (Fig. 220). It is also interesting to note 

 that all the plants of highest rank in 

 their respective lines have epigynous 

 flowers. 



139. Flower clusters. In many cases 

 a single flower terminates the stem, or 

 flowers may occur in the axils of ordi- 

 nary leaves. But more frequently flow- 

 ers occur in definite clusters, which are 

 characteristic and help to distinguish 

 plants. It is unnecessary to enumerate all the forms of 

 flower clusters and their names, but some of the more 

 important may be noted. 



One of the most common kinds of clusters is that in 

 which the flowers arise along an axis, resulting in a more 

 or less elongated and often drooping cluster. This is 

 called a raceme, and the flowers may be loosely or densely 

 arranged (Fig. 221). If in such a cluster the flowers have 

 no stalks, and rest directly on the axis, the cluster is called 

 a spike, as in the common plantain (Fig. 222). If the 

 cluster is flat-topped, with the flower-stalks rising and 



FIG. 



ers (Amaryllis Fami- 

 ly). After STRAS- 



