BOTANXCA. 
m 
the florets may be disposed, either all around it, as in calla, 
dracontium, pothos, Sic. ; on the lower side of it, as in arum , 
&c.; or on two sides as in zoster a, 8cc. These flowers have 
generally no partial calyx. 
These are the several distinctions of aggregate flowers, 
(according to Linnaeus); besides which there are several other 
modes of flowering, properly so called, which come under the 
general term Inflorescence; and often afford the best 
marks to discriminate Che species. These modes of flowering 
are chiefly expressed as follow: 
1st. Verticillus>* (a verticil, or whirl) when the flowers 
are placed in whirls at each joint, round the common stalk ;f 
they have very short partial peduncles, are all of the lip kind, 
and have either two or four stamina, and four naked seeds, as 
in salvia, marrubium, mentha, &c. A verticil hath several 
distinctions, as naked, bracted, &c.; and all those genera with 
four stamina, are of the class didynamia. 
2d. Capitulum, (a little head) when many flowers are 
connected into nearly a globular form or head, on the summit 
of the common stalk, sometimes with, and sometimes without 
partial peduncles, ns in gomphrena, &c. and is distinguished 
by its shape, arid other circumstances. Under capitulum is 
now introduced the term Fasciculus,( a little bundle) which 
in former editions stood distinct. It means when the pedun¬ 
cles are erect, parallel, approaching each other, and raised to 
the same hight, as in dianthus-barhatus, (sweet william) 
* The leaves of verticiled plants are fragrant, warm, and aromatic. v 
f Common receptacles and common peduncles we must take from Linnaeus j 
he only calls those common receptacles, that belong to aggregate flowers. Proper 
modes of flowering are said to be either sitting, or on common or partial pedun¬ 
cles ; and to constitute an aggregate flower, the common receptacle must either be 
dilated* as in the first two distinctions ; or it must be a centre from whence the 
peduncles proceed, as in the umbel and cyme; or it must proceed from, or be con¬ 
nected with a common calyx, as in the other distinctions. Some of the species 
under the modes of flowering on peduncles, are also aggregate flowers, as being 
within a common calyx, as © atf r panlc^grass, &c. under pamcula ; and some of 
the species of dianthus , under the first distinction, are called aggregate , though 
fascicled and headed,—Pediculus (a pedicle from pes) was used by the antient bota¬ 
nists for the footstalk of a leaf or flower; but Linnaeus has exploded the term, and 
substituted petiolus for the footstalk of a leaf* and pedunculus for that of a flower. 
