INFLORESCENCE. 
7T 
aer ; the flowers developing in the order of their age, begin- 
ning at the center. 
83. W e will consider the flower, with respect to the organs 
which it contains / to the hranches which supjport it / and the 
/lowers which are near it^ or grow on the same peduncle. 
When the corolla is monopetalous it supports the stamens : 
when it is polypetalous the stamens are inserted upon tht 
calyx or upon the receptacle, and their number is then usually 
double the number of petals, as in the pink, which has ten 
stamens and five petals. When inserted beneath the ovary or 
base of the pistil, the corolla is said to be hyjpogynous (under- 
neath the style, or inferior), as in the stramonium. When it is 
inserted into the calyx and surrounds the ovary, as in the cur- 
rant, it is said to be perigynous (around the style, or envelop- 
ing it). When the corolla is inserted upon the ovary, as in 
the trumpet-honeysuckle, it is said to be epigynous^ or supe- 
rior. 
a. The disposition of flowers upon their branches is analo 
gous to that of leaves ; thus, flowers are either radical^ coming 
from the root, or cauline^ coming from the stem ; they are 
feduncled or sessile^ solitojry^ scattered.^ or opposite.^ alternate or 
axillary. They are unilateral^ growing on one side of the 
branch ; or fixed equally upon all parts of the peduncle and 
pointing in different directions. 
h. The difierent modes of division of the common peduncle 
into lesser peduncles or supports cause a great difference in 
the appearance and situation of flowers, and exhibit a variety 
of forms of inflorescence. The green part which comes from 
the stem and supports the flower is called ih.Q peduncle^ or foot- 
stalk. The divisions of the peduncle are cdlX^di pedicels. When 
the lateral buds of a flower-branch become flowers without 
forming pedicels, a spiJce is the result. The axis of the spike 
continues to lengthen, producing new flowers at its summit^ 
arising from lateral buds ; this is called indefinite Fig. 91. 
or indeterminate inflorescence. But when the hud 
at the summit of the hranch becomes a flower, the 
inflorescence is said to be definite or determinate. 
When the plant is one-flowered, the flower is 
usually inserted at the end of the stem ; the pedun- 
cle in that case is scarcely distinct from the stem. 
84:. Yerticillaster (from verticillus^ a kind of 
ecrew), or whorl. A whorl in botany signifies a 
circle, or ring, and the term is now usually applied 
to leaves, and the difierent whorls of the organs which compose 
83. Flower considered under three aspects — What is said of the corolla with respect to other crgani 
pf the flower? — a. What is said of the flower with respect to the branches which supjiortitl- 
It. With respect to the divisions of the stem which support the flower 1—84. Verticillaster or whorl 
