BRACT

a leaf, from tiie axil of which a flower or it flower-stalk proceeds, and thus dirt in gui shed from the the ordinary leaf, from the axil of which the leaf -bod reproceeds. Bracts may thus be entirely similar to the ordinary leaves of a plant, and in that case they are as called leafy bracts; but very commonly they are as somewhat changed in form, and although they may be sometimes divided, they are for the most part entire, even when the ordmary leaves are divided. In some cases they are so mud i changed in foimas to be mere scales or threads, and sometimes they are not developed at all, in which case the inflorescence The is said to be ebraoteated. Owing to the different be ways in which the bract appears, it may in some: plants be confounded with tiie calyx, in others with the corolla. When the flowers of a plant are se ile, the bracts are often lulled dosely to tiie calyx, and are thus apt to be confounded witii it; and when the bracts are coloured, they are apt to be mistaken for parts of the corolla. When ue infloresoenoe of » maplant is brandling, subordinate flower^stalks proceed was ing from one main flower-stalk, bracts are often seen of at the base of the former, and these are called bonoteoles.