Flowers are the most beautiful parts of plants.
The inflorescence is a modified form of a flower but looks like a bunch of flowers.
In other terms, it is considered as an advanced form of a flower in the evolution.
Unlike traditional flowers like a rose, marry gold, or even lotus, these flowers quite different in their appearance and arrangement.
An inflorescence is a bunch of flowers present on a single peduncle. The peduncle is the part of the stem which extends to bear a flower.
So it means in an inflorescence, there are many tiny flowers arranged on the peduncle.
Types of inflorescence:
Inflorescence can be classified based on their origin (location) on the plant and also based on the development of peduncle.
Based on the origin of the plant they are of three types as
- Terminal inflorescence.
- Axillary inflorescence
- Intercalary inflorescence.
Terminal inflorescence is one where the inflorescence develops on the tips of the main stem and branches. Ex: Croton plant.
The axillary inflorescence is one that originates from the leaf axils. Ex: Dolichos plant
The intercalary inflorescence is one that is borne at the internodes of the stem. Ex: Callistemon.
Based on the growth of peduncle, the inflorescence is again divided as
- Racemose
- Cymose
- Special types.
Racemose types: here the peduncle grows very long and flowers are arranged in an acropetal manner (acro= tip, petal= petals). That is older flowers are present at the bottom while new ones are at the tip. This racemose inflorescence is again of 6 types as
- Simple raceme
- Compound raceme
- Simple corymb
- Compound corymb
- Simple Umbel
- Compound Umbel
Cymose: Here the inflorescence has a flower at the top of the peduncle. Then other flowers emerge in the axis below this flower. This is of 5 types as
- Solitary cyme
- Simple cyme
- Monochasial cyme
- Dichasial cyme
- Polychasial cyme
Besides, there are also special types as
- Hypanthodium
- Verticillaster
- Cyathium