388] Irmisch described a similar
phenomenon in _L. vernum_; and Mr. Moggridge has communicated drawings
of a similar formation in the same species grown in the neighbourhood of
Mentone.

From the instances cited it is clear that branching of the inflorescence
occurs most frequently in those plants naturally characterised by a
dense compact mode of growth, whether that be definite or indefinite, as
in spikes, umbels, capitula, &c.; so that compound spikes, umbels, &c.,
are formed in the place of simple ones (see also prolification of the
inflorescence, p. 102).

[Illustration: FIG. 182.--Broccoli, with six perfect heads on one stalk
('Gard. Chron.,' 1856, Oct. 25).]

=Increased number of florets= in the individual spikelets of grasses is
also met with under some circumstances. I have seen this in _Hordeum_
and _Lolium_, and an instance is figured in _Avena_ by Dr.
Wiegmann.[389] M. Duval Jouve[390] records a similar occurrence in
_Catabrosa aquatica_, the spikelets of which contained from two to seven
flowers.[391]

FOOTNOTES:

[379] 'Phil Bot.,' Sec. 274.

[380] 'El. Ter. Veget.,' p. 392.

[381] 'Bull. Acad. Belg.,' xvii, part ii, p. 38.

[382] 'Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr.,' vol. iv, 1857. p. 760.

[383] Ibid., vol. viii, 1861, p. 159.

[384] See 'Gard. Chron.,' July, 1866, p. 656, and Clusius, 'Plant.
Rar.,' lib. 2, p. 143, _Tulipa serotina_ [Greek: polyklades], _minor_,
_&c._ Hort. Eysttett. Plant. Vern.,' fol. 12.

[385] 'Jaeger de Pini sylvestris monstrositate,' Stuttgardt, 1828.

[386] Cited in 'Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr.,' xiv, p. 265.

[387] Duval Jouve, 'Hist. Nat. Equiset. Fr.,' tab. 8, also Milde, 'Nov.
Act. Acad. Nat. Cur.,' t. xxvi, part 2. For branched inflorescence of
orchids, see 'Reichenbach Proc. Lond. Bot. Congress,' 1866, p. 121.

[388] 'Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr.,' vi, 266, vii, 457. Irmisch, 'Knollen und
Zwiebelgew.,' tab. 7, figs. 10, 11.

[389] 'Flora,' 1831, p. 5, tab. i; see also Hanstein, 'Flora,' 1857, p.
513. Schlechtendal, 'Bot. Zeit.,' xviii, p. 381.

[390] 'Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr.,' ix, p. 8.

[391] It will be seen, from what has been just said, that in some of the
cases where the axile organs, branches, &c., appear to be multiplied,
the increased number is due to subdivision rather than to renewed
formation (see Fission). Of this last description is an instance which
came under the writer's notice after the section relating to that
subject was in print, and which may therefore here be alluded