e
head of prolification of the inflorescence. As, however, there is still
some difference of opinion as to the correct morphological
interpretation to be put on some of these cases, it has been thought
better to include them under the head of heterotaxy than of
prolification.

[Illustration: 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 Europoea,' 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:

_Leafy_. _Floral_.

Ranunculaceae Ranunculus. Ranunculus!
Anemone. Anemone.
Cruciferae. *Brassica!
Caryophyllaceae. Lychnis!
Dianthus!
Geraniaceae. *Pelargonium! *Pelargonium!
Leguminosae. *Trifolium! Trifolium!
Lotus! Lotus!
Coronilla!
Cytisus. Cytisus.
Rosaceae. Poterium.
*Pyrus! *Pyrus!
*Crataegus! Crataegus!
*Rosa. Rosa!
Sanguisorba.

Philadelphaceae. Philadelphus.
Crassulaceae. Sempervivum.
Echeveria.
Crassula.
Ficoideae. ?Tetragonia.
Cactaceae. Opuntia. Opuntia.
Pereskia.
Saxifragaceae. Saxifraga!
Umbelliferae. Seseli.