On many occasions, when we talk about flowers in terms of gardening or botany, the term is mentioned inflorescence. When talking about plants in a colloquial way, it is very common to simply refer to flowers. However, in a more technical environment, it is common to talk about inflorescences, especially with some species.
If you want to learn more about what inflorescences are and their different types, join us in this article in which we clarify What is an inflorescence, its types and parts, as well as their differences with flowers.
- What is an inflorescence and what is its function?
- Types of inflorescence
- Parts of an inflorescence
- Difference between flower and inflorescence
What is an inflorescence and what is its function?
In botany, it is known as inflorescence the arrangement of flowers on branches or a stem. Therefore, the inflorescence represents a reproductive branching which, in general terms, is constant for each species; hence its importance in the systematic of vascular plants.
The multifloral inflorescences can be simple (if they only consist of a common axis or receptacle that carries the uniflorous twigs) or compound (when the main axis has multifloral lateral branches). According to their composition, they are distinguished homogeneous inflorescences (the secondary elements are of the same type as the total inflorescence), heterogeneous (elements of a different nature but of the same general type) and mixed (combine different types, for example, top of chapters).
In certain cases, the inflorescence simulates a single flower forming a pseudonymClassic examples are the chapter of Asteraceae, the spadix accompanied by spathe in Araceae or the cyathium of Euphorbia.
Types of inflorescence
According to the shape and development of the axis, two large groups are distinguished. racemose (indeterminate, also called open) keep the apical meristem: the axis lengthens in an indefinite theoretical way, the flowers are lateral and flowering progresses in a centripetal (the last to open are the apical or central ones). cymose (determinate or closed) consume the apex in a flower terminal; below it secondary axes are born that also end in flower, with a march centrifugal (open the central flower first and then the side ones).
Inside the inflorescences simple racemose Highlights include: cluster (pedicelle flowers along the rachis), the spike (sessile flowers), the corymb (pedicels of different lengths that equal the level of the flowers), the umbel (pedicels of similar length that start from a point), the chapter (widened receptacle with sessile flowers and often casing) And the spadix (fleshy axis with spathe (enveloping). In grasses and related plants, the elementary unit is the spikelet, with glumes basal and flowers protected by motto y palea.
Among the simple cymose are distinguished monocasios (a branch below the terminal flower), with variants such as bostrice, drepanio, cincino o ripidio, and the dicases (two opposite branches under the terminal flower). When there are three or more, it is called PleiocasioPeaks are also described helical, circinate, dichotomous, umbelliforms, corymbiform y capituliform.
Compound inflorescences
These are those in which the main axis and the sides carry in turn inflorescences; that is, they present branching of Second order or higher. They can be homogeneous (same type at all levels), such as panicle or bunch of bunches, the umbel of umbels, spike of spikelets, the chapter of chapters, the corymb of corymbs or compound dichasium, and mixed (they combine different types), such as thyrsus (indeterminate central axis with lateral peaks), the corymb of chapters or cluster of spikelets.
Parts of an inflorescence
The inflorescences consist of a axis (spine), peduncles o pedicels, bracts (hipsophila) and flowersIn certain types, specialized structures appear, such as the receptacle (chapters), the spathe (spadices), the casing (capitules and umbels), the glumes and glumillas o lemma/palea (spikelets).
- Growth normally limited and linked to the reproductive function, unlike the vegetative stem.
- yolks which are transformed into flowering branches, with high branching in a short time.
- bracts often different in size, shape and color from the vegetative leaves, with a protective and sometimes attractive function.
- Branch which can be organized in orders (primary, secondary, etc.), key to classification.
Difference between flower and inflorescence
La flower is the organ individual reproductive, with perianth and sexual organs; the inflorescence is architecture which groups several flowers on a system of axes. This organization influences the pollination, visibility for pollinators, pollen release and fruit dispersal. In the pseudonyms, several flowers act as one, optimizing interaction with pollinating agents.
Understanding classification in racemose y cymose, as well as the diversity of simple, compound and special variants, allows us to identify species, interpret reproductive strategies and better exploit the ornamental and productive potential of plants.
