ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION. 



35 



which from their contiguity, form a close, compact, flat 

 or convex surface like an open umbrella, as in parsley, 

 parsnip, carrot, and the umbel family in general ; all 

 such are called compound umbels ; — a simple umhel is 

 when a number of pedicellate flowers rise from a solitary 

 peduncle, as in the ivy. 



Cyme. — When the peduncles radiate from a centre, as 

 in the umbel, each bearing a flower on its apex and pro- 

 ducing from around its base short pedicels bearing flowers 

 forming small umbels, as in the elder. Guelder rose, and 

 laurestine. 



Spicate. — When a number of sessile flowers are pro- 

 duced on a peduncle in the form of a spike, as in lavender, 

 purple lythrum, and common plantain. The axis on 

 which the flowers are seated is called the rachis ; the 

 spike is generally cylindrical, tapering to a point, or it is 

 angular. In some the flowers are in two rows, one on 

 each side of the rachis, or they are all on one side ; the 

 first of these is called a distichous and the latter a secund 

 spike. In some spikes the flowers are in whorls (verti- 

 cillate), as in many of the Mint family. 



Raceme. — When the flowers are arranged on a rachis 

 (as in a spike) but more distant, and each having an 

 evident pedicel, as the hyacinth and foxglove. Some 

 secund spikes and racemes are curved inwards, to which 

 the term scorpioid is applied, as in scorpion grass and 

 species of Tournefortia. 



Corymb. — Is a raceme having the lower pedicels the 

 longest, the upper ones diminishing towards the apex, 

 thus bringing the whole to nearly the same level, each 

 bearing a flower, which flowers, by their contiguity, form 

 a flat or umbel-like head, as in candytuft. 



Panicle, — A branched spike or raceme, the branches 

 D 2 



