BOTANY. 
Tlie following are the several kinds of 
inflorescence. 
1. Verticillus, a whorl, in which the 
flowers surround the stem in a garland or 
ring, though perhaps merely inserted on its 
two opposite sides, as in the natural order 
to which the mints, the dead nettle, La- 
minin, and many others belong. Fig. 25. 
2. Iiacemus, a cluster or raceme, bears 
several flowers, each in its own stalk, loose- 
ly ranged along one common stalk, like a 
bunch of currants, and this common stalk 
may be either simple or branched. A ra- 
cemus is generally drooping or pendulous, 
and the flowers are all nearly in perfection 
at once. Fig. 26. 
3. Spica, a spike, is composed of nume- 
rous crowded flowers, ranged along an up- 
right common stalk, expanding progres- 
sively and properly, destitute of any partial 
stalks ; but this last circumstance cannot 
be rigidly observed. Wheat and barley 
are good examples of a genuine spike. 
Some lavenders have a compound spike. 
Spicula, a spikelet, is a term used only for 
grasses, and expresses that assemblage of 
florets in a common calyx which constitutes 
their flow ers. Fig. 27. 
4. Corymbus, a corymb, fig. 28. may be 
called a flat-topped spike, the long stalks 
of whose lowermost flowers raise them to 
a level with the uppermost, or nearly so ; 
this is exemplified in the cabbage and wall- 
flower. The yarrow and mountain-ash bear 
a kind of compound and irregular corym- 
bus, to which is nearly allied, 
5. Fasciculus, a fascicle, expressive of a 
close bundle of flowers, on little stalks va- 
riously connected and level at the top, as in 
the sweet-william. Fig. 29. 
6. Capitulum, a head or tuft, is com- 
posed of numerous sessile flowers, collected 
into a globular form, as the globe amaran- 
thus and thrift. Fig. 30. 
7. Umbclla, an umbel or rundle, consists 
of several stalks, called rays, spreading 
from one common centre, like an umbrella. 
Each stalk is either simple and single-flow- 
ered, or, as most commonly occurs, subdi- 
vided into an umbellula, or partial umbel. 
This inflorescence belongs to a natural or- 
der, thence called Umbellate, to which the 
parsley, carrot, hemlock, and many others 
belong. Fig. 31. 
8. Cyma, a cyme, consists of stalks 
springing from one common centre, but 
which are afterwards irregularly subdivided, 
as in the laurustinus and elder, fig. 32. Lin- 
naeus was led by some considerations to rec- 
kon these two last forms of inflorescence as 
aggregate flowers, but it is found more cor- 
rect to esteem them modes of inflorescence, 
though by so doing we lose the advantage 
of taking parts properly belonging to the 
umbel into the generic character. By a 
contrary mode of proceeding we presume 
to think Linnaeus swerved from his own 
rule of founding his genera on the actual 
parts of fructification. 
9. Paniculu, a panicle, Plate III. fig. 33, 
is a loose subdivided bunch of flowers, ar- 
ranged without order, as in the oat. It is 
either close or spreading. When its branches 
lean all towards one side, it is called Pani- 
cula secynda. 
10. Thyrsus, a bunch, is a very dense pa- 
nicle, inclining to an ovate figure, of which 
Linnaeus cites the lilac and butterbur as in- 
stances. Dr. Smith adds to these a bunch of 
grapes, which appears to him to have been 
inaccurately reckoned a racemus. Fig. 34. 
OF THE FRUCTIFICATION OF PLANTS. 
Under the term fructification are com- 
prehended not only all the parts of the fruit 
but also those of the flower, which last are in- 
dispensable for the perfecting of the former. 
All these organs are, therefore, essential to a 
vegetable, which may be deficient in any of 
those that we have previously described, but 
can never be totally destitute of those by 
which its species is propagated from genera- 
tion to generation ; for propagation by cut- 
tings, buds, or roots, is only the extension of 
an individual, the life and vigour of which 
gradually wears out unless it be reproduced 
from seed. The fructification is, therefore, 
well defined by Linnaeus as “a temporary 
part of vegetables, terminating the old in- 
dividual and beginning the new.” 
The parts w'hich constitute these essential 
organs are seven. 1 . Calyx, fig. 35, the flower- 
cup, or external covering of the flower. 
This also is of seven kinds : 1 . Perianthium, 
or calyx, properly so called when it is con- 
tiguous to and makes a part of the flower, 
as the five green leaves which encompass a 
rose, including their urn-shaped base. 2. 
Involucrum, which is remote from the flower, 
as in the umbelliferous tribe; but if the 
idea of these plants as above expressed be 
just, the part in question ought rather to be 
considered as a bractea. 3. Amentum, a cat- 
kin, is formed of numerous scales attached 
to one cylindrical receptacle, and falling off 
with it: in catkins which bear seed the 
scales are often enlarged and hardened into 
a cone, as in the fir. 4. Spatha, a sheath, 
