Presented by –

Dhanashree, Laxmi,
Pajenghenbi, Shruti,
Swayambhu
Under the guidance of –
Dr. Sarika Torawane
What do you mean by inflorescence?
Can anyone tell from the pictures below?
• Parts of Inflorescence :
Peduncle – Also known as main axis where the flowers are produced.
Pedicel – Stalk bearing a single flower.
Bract – Modified leaf at the base of the flower.
• Definition – Inflorescence is defined as the arrangement of
flowers on the floral axis of a plant.
• Reproduction happens in both :
 Lower Plants  Higher Plants
- Reproduce vegetatively by - Reproduce sexually by formation
formation of spores. of seeds.
- They do not produce flowers. - They have flowers.
(Exception : Pteridophytes)
- Bryophytes(Mosses) - Pteridophytes(Ferns)
Algae Gymnosperms(Cycads)
Fungi Angiosperms(Hibiscus)
• Cryptogams –
Plants or plant-like organisms
that reproduce by spores.
They do not have flowers.
Eg : Bryophytes, Algae,
Fungi, Pteridophytes
• Spermatophytes –
Plants that bear seeds. They bear very attractive and colorful flowers.
Eg : Gymnosperms, Angiosperms
• Inflorescence are of two types :
1. Racemose 2. Cymose
1. Racemose Inflorescence :
 The flowers are arranged in an acropetal
succession in this type of inflorescence
i.e. oldest flowers are at the base while
the youngest flowers are at the top of the
peduncle.
 This type of inflorescence is also called
indeterminate inflorescence as the growth
of the peduncle is never terminated by a
flower.
Eg : Brassica (Mustard)
 Racemose inflorescence can be classified into three types on the basis of
nature of main axis/peduncle.
i. MAIN AXIS IS ELONGATED
ii. MAIN AXIS IS SHORTENED
iii. MAIN AXIS BECOMES FLATTENED, CONCAVE OR CONVEX
i. MAIN AXIS ELONGATED
1. Raceme :
 Simple Raceme :
- the peduncle bears many pedicellate, bracteate or ebracteate flowers.
- the older flowers have longer pedicels than the younger ones.
- eg : Brassica
 Compound Raceme or Panicle :
- the main axis of the raceme is
branched.
- the branches develop in a acropetal
succession.
- the lateral branches bear pedicellate
flowers.
eg : Delonix
2. Spike :
- main axis is elongated. - flowers are sessile and bracteates.
 Simple Spike –
- the main axis is unbranched.
- they bear sessile flowers
- the flowers are arranged in
acropetal succession.
- eg : Polianthes
 Compound Spike –
- the main axis is branched.
- they bear sessile and bracteates flowers.
- they occur in acropetal succession.
- eg : Wheat
 Catkin –
- this is a spike like inflorescence.
- the flowers do not have pedicel.
- main axis is elongated and unbranched.
- catkin is unisexual.
- they occur on woody trees.
- eg : willow
3. Spadix –
 Simple spadix :
- it is a modified type of inflorescence.
- the peduncle is thick, stout and
fleshy.
- flowers are unisexual and sessile.
- the peduncle bears upper male
flowers, lower female flowers and
middle sterile flowers.
- the inflorescence is covered by a large
fleshy bract called Spathe.
- eg : Arum
 Mixed spadix :
- this type of inflorescence is very large.
- every node of floral axis bears flashy
and colored spathe.
- eg : Banana
 Compound spadix –
- the main axis is branched.
- whole inflorescence is covered by a
woody spathe.
- eg : Coconut
ii. MAIN AXIS SHORTENED
 Umbel
An inflorescence in which all the pedicels are on the same
length and arise from the same point.
There are two types of umbel –
a. Simple Umbel
b. Compound Umbel
a. Simple Umbel :
 In this type of racemose, the main axis of the inflorescence is
shortened.
 The flowers are pedicellate.
 A group of pedicellate flowers appear to arise from the same point.
 The pedicels are of the same length and therefore the flowers at the top
are also at the same level.
 Here, the younger flowers are present in the middle and the whole
inflorescence looks like an umbrella.
 There is always a whorl of bracts forming an involucre and each
flower develops from an axil of a bract.
 E.g. : Hydrocotyl
b. Compound Umbel
 All the umbellate inflorescences arises from a common point and
appears to be at the same level
 E.g. : Coriander, Fennel
iii. MAIN AXIS FLATTENED
1. Head or Capitulum :
The peduncle is flattened and the disc like structure known as
receptacle bears sessile or subsessile flowers.
Types of Capitulum :
a. Simple Capitulum
b. Compound Capitulum
a. Simple Capitulum :
 The main axis is flattened to form more or less convex receptacle.
 The ray and disc florets are arranged in a centripetal order.
 The ray florets are arranged on the periphery of the receptacle, while
disc florets occupy the inner portion of the receptacle.
 Each floret has its own scaly bract at its base.
 The whorl of green bract known as involucre.
 The whole inflorescence looks like a single flower.
 The ray florets may be unisexual (female) or bisexual but disc florets are
always bisexual.
 E.g. - Sunflower
b. Compound Capitulum :
 The main axis is branched and several capitula are included in the
within the same involucre.
 E.g. - Echinops
2. Cymose Inflorescence
• In this type of inflorescence, the main axis/peduncle terminates into a
flower and further growth takes place by lateral branches which arises
below the terminal flowers.
• The lateral branches also terminates into a flower.
• The arrangement of flower is Basipetal.
• Cymose is divided into four parts on the basis of its arrangement, which
are as follows : CYMOSE

Dichasial Polychasial
Solitary simple cyme Monochasial cyme cyme cyme
i. Solitary Simple Cyme :
 When the apical or axillary bud forms a single flower, it is known as
axillary or apical solitary simple cyme.
 Its further developed is limited.
 The inflorescence is always bracteates.
ii. Monochasial Cyme :
 It is the type of inflorescence where the main axis ends in a flower and
produces a single lateral branch from the base that also ends in a flower.
 They may be of two types –
a. Scorpoid b. Helicoid
a. Scorpoid –
In this type of cyme, the apex of the peduncle terminates in a flower and a
single lateral branch axis is given out alternatively to the right and the left
of it.
It forms a zig-zag structure.
b. Helicoid –
In this type, each lateral branch develops on the same side and forms a
helix like structure.
iii. Dichasial Cyme :
It is type of inflorescence where the main stem stops growing after a
terminal flower bloom develops. Two later branches emerges from the
main stem at the same time.
iv. Polychasial Cyme :
 The main axis ends in a flower and at the same time, it again produces a
number of lateral flowers around it. There are more than two lateral
flowers present.
 The inflorescence is like an umbel and later on it can be distinguished
from the lateral opening of the middle flower.
 Inflorescence

Racemose Cymose

Main axis Main axis

flattened elongated
Main axis
shortened
 Main Axis Elongated

Raceme Spike Spadix

 Raceme

Compound
Simple Raceme
Raceme
 Spike

Simple Spike Compound Spike Catkin

 Spadix

SimpleSpadix MixedSpadix CompoundSpadix

Main Axis Shortened Umbel

Simple Umbel Compound Umbel

Main Axis Flattened Capitulum/Head

Simple
capitulum Compound capitulum
 Cymose

Simple cyme Uniparous cyme Biparous cyme Multiparous cyme

Scorpioid

Helicoid
a. Verticillaster
 It is a complex type of inflorescence where the axis bears opposite
leaves.
 The flowers develop at the axils of the leaves.
 Each inflorescence is a dichasial cyme
which later turns into two scorpioid
cymes on both sides.
 The flowers are sessile and arranged in
clusters around the axis forming a false
whorl known as verticel.
 Characteristic feature of family
Lamiaceae. Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi)
b. Cyathium
 It is a specialized cymose inflorescence.
 Multiple bracts are united together to form
cup shaped green involucres.
 A single female flower is located at the center
with a longer stalk and surrounded by
numerous younger male flowers with a
shorter stalk. Each male flower is
represented by a single stamen.
 The bracteoles are thin and scaly.
 Nectar gland is present on involucre. Euphorbia corollata

 Characteristic feature of family Euphorbiaceae.

c. Hypanthodium
 Receptacle is modified into a cup-shaped
structure by condensation of ranchis of
three closely placed cymes.
 There is a small opening at the top of the
receptacle called ostiole.
 Ostiole is guarded by many incurved hairs.
 Male flowers are situated towards the
apex of the receptacle.
 Female flowers are situated at the base
Fucuscarica (Fig)
and sterile female flowers known as gall
flowers are located at the middle portion.
 Characteristic feature of family Moraceae (Urticaceae)
Significance :
• Inflorescence is an important taxonomic character.
• Inflorescence serves the purpose of attracting pollinating agents. Small
flowers are collectively together and visible to pollinating agents.
• Younger flowers open later making flowering period longer.
• Longer flowering period helps avoid sudden damage to all flowers.
• Inflorescence complements shape or a feature to pollinating agents
making pollination easier.
• Type of inflorescence is crucial in hybridization. Decides methodology
for cross pollination.
• Inflorescence help to indicate primitive or advanced nature of family.
Thank You