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An axis on which all the flower buds. Inflorescence affords an excellent characteristic mark in distinguishing the species of plants. Milne. Centrifugal inflorescence, determinate inflorescence. -- Centripetal inflorescence, indeterminate inflorescence. See under Determinate, and Indeterminate.

s the apex, or from the circumference towards the center; centripetal; -- said of certain inflorescence.

A species of inflorescence; a catkin. The globular ament of a buttonwood. Coues.

Resembling, or consisting of, an ament or aments; as, the chestnut has an amentaceous inflorescence.

The inflorescence of a compound flower in which many florets are gathered into a involucrate head.

The arrangement of flowers in a cluster; the science of the relative position of flowers; inflorescence.

A form of cymose inflorescence with all the flowers on one side of the rachis, usually causing it to curl; -- called also a uniparous helicoid cyme.

Of the racemose or acropetal type of inflorescence. Gray.

An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of a slender axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar, and (as to the staminate flowers) in the chestnut, oak, hickory, etc. -- so called from its resemblance to a cat's tail. See Illust. of Ament.

anches forming the head of a tree; or a cluster of brachts when empty and terminating the inflorescence of a plant; or a tuft of long hairs on certain seeds. Coma Berenices ( Etym: [L.] (Astron.), a small constellation north of Virgo; -- called also Berenice's Hair.

class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n. -- Definite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determinate inflorescence, under Determinate. -- Law of definite proportions (Chem.), the essential law of chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same…

solute. [Obs.] More determinate to do than skillful how to do. Sir P. Sidney. Determinate inflorescence (Bot.), that in which the flowering commences with the terminal bud of a stem, which puts a limit to its growth; -- also called centrifugal inflorescence. -- Determinate problem (Math.), a problem which admits of a…

An abnormal prolongation of the axis of inflorescence.

Spreading loosely, especially on one side; as, an effuse inflorescence. Loudon.

d a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class. -- Indefinite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Indeterminate inflorescence, under Indeterminate. -- Indefinite proposition (Logic), a statement whose subject is a common term, with nothing to indicate distribution or nondistribution; as, Man is morta…

nate when it contains more unknown quantities than there are equations. -- Indeterminate inflorescence (Bot.), a mode of inflorescence in which the flowers all arise from axillary buds, the terminal bud going on to grow and sometimes continuing the stem indefinitely; -- called also acropetal, botryose, centripetal, an…

ntranthus ruber). (b) The houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum); -- so called from its massive inflorescence, like the sculptured beard of Jove. Prior. (c) the cloverlike Anthyllis Barba-Jovis. -- Jupiter's staff (Bot.), the common mullein; -- so called from its long, rigid spike of yellow blossoms.

A pyramidal form of inflorescence, in which the cluster is loosely branched below and gradually simpler toward the end.

A large and flexible panicle of inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large ornamental grasses. Plume bird (Zoöl.), any bird that yields ornamental plumes, especially the species of Epimarchus from New Guinea, and some of the herons and egrets, as the white heron of Florida (Ardea candidissima)…

On the side next the axis of inflorescence; -- said of an axillary flower. Gray.