CHAP. II. 
INFLORESCENCE. 
155 
When the flowers of a spike are destitute of calyx and 
corolla, the place of which is taken by bracts, and when with 
such a formation the whole inflorescence falls off in a single 
piece, either after flowering or ripening the fruit, as in Cory- 
lus, Salix, &c., such an inflorescence is called an amentum 
or catkin [Catulus^ lulus, nucamentum, of old writers (Jig. 82.). 
If a spike consists of flowers destitute of calyx and corolla, 
the place of which is occupied by bracts, supported by other 
bracts which enclose no flowers, and when with such a form- 
ation the rachis, which is flexuose and toothed, does not fall 
off with the flowers, as in Grasses, each part of the inflo- 
rescence so arranged is called a spikelet or locusta. 
When the flowers are closely arranged around a fleshy 
rachis, which is enclosed in the kind of bract called a spathe 
(see p. 148.), the inflorescence is termed a spadix (j^^. 83.). 
