Fig. 57.—Branched inflorescence of Reseda luteola.
Some of the cases of prolification of the inflorescence resulting in a branching of an ordinarily simple inflorescence, as in Reseda luteola (fig. 57), might equally well be placed with fission or multiplication of the axile organs. Branched spikes of this character are not so common among Orchids as might be expected. Professor Reichenbach enumerates a few instances in the Report of the International Botanical Congress of London, 1866, p. 121, and the same author gives an illustration in his 'Orchidographia Europœa,' tab. 150.
In Grasses, as indeed in other plants with a spicate inflorescence, this change occurs not unfrequently. The common Ray Grass (Lolium) is especially subject to the change in question, and among cultivated cereals, maize and wheat occasionally show this tendency to subdivision. One variety of the latter grain is cultivated in hot countries under the name of Egyptian wheat—Triticum vulgare, var. compositum.
Prolification of the inflorescence has been most frequently observed in the following genera:
In addition to the papers already cited the following works may be consulted with reference to prolification of the inflorescence:
Moquin-Tandon. 'El. Ter. Veg.,' p. 376. Engelmann, 'De Antholysi,' §§ 85–87. Fleischer, 'Missbild. Versch. Cultur. Pflanz.' For figures of Hen and Chicken Daisy (Bellis prolifera). see Lobel, 'Ic.,' 477. Sweert, 'Florileg.,' pl. 98, f. 5. 'Hort. Eystett. Plant. Vern.,' fol. iv, f. i. &c. For similar malformations in marigold (Calendula), see Lobel, 'Ic.,' 553. 'Act. Acad. Nat. Cur.,' vol. x, p. 208. Jaeger, 'Missbilld.,' 192–195. 'Hort. Eystett.,' pl. æstiv. fol. iii, f. i. Klinsmann, 'Linnæa,' t. x, p. 607.
For monstrous plantains, in addition to previous citations, see Camerarius, 'Epist.,' p. 261, P. rosea. Matthioli, 'Krauterb,' 245. Lobel, 'Stirp. Advers. Nov.,' p. 128, P. major paniculata. J. Bauhin, 'Hist. Plant.,' i, p. 503 b. Ibid., p. 503, a, c, P. major rosea, bracteata paniculata, prolifera, &c. 'Hort. Eystett.,' pl. æstiv., t. vii, f. 2, P. rosea et P. bracteata. Lobel, 'Stirp. Hist.,' p. 162. Dodonæus, 'Pempt.,' 1–4, cap. xxiii, P. major spica multiplex, i.e. paniculata. Gerard, 'Herbal.' Clusius, 'Plant. Rar. Hist.,' lib. v, p. 109–10, Plantago augustifolia Gareti prolifera. Marchand, 'Adansonia,' iv, p. 156.
Coniferæ.—Richard, 'Mem. Conif.,' tab. xiii, f. 9. A. Braun, 'Das Individ.,' 1853, p. 65. De Cand., 'Organogr.,' tab. xxxvi. Wigand, 'Bot. Untersuch.,' 154. Schlechtendal, 'Bot. Zeit.,' 1859, p. 239. Caspary, 'De Abiet. flor. fem. struct. morphol.' Parlatore, 'Ann. Sc. Nat.,' 1862, vol. xvi, p. 215. Cramer, 'Bildungsabweich.,' p. 4, &c., &c.