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Inflorescences - Floral Displays Inflorescences - Floral Displays

The vast majority of flowering plants The vast majority of flowering plants
possess flowers in clusters called an possess flowers in clusters called an
inflorescence inflorescence. .
These clusters facilitate pollination via These clusters facilitate pollination via
a prominent visual display and more a prominent visual display and more
efficient pollen uptake and deposition. efficient pollen uptake and deposition.
A shift from widely A shift from widely
spaced single flowers to spaced single flowers to
an inflorescence required an inflorescence required
condensation of shoots condensation of shoots
and the loss of the and the loss of the
intervening leaves. intervening leaves.
( (Prunus Prunus or cherry) or cherry)
The simplest The simplest
inflorescence type inflorescence type
would thus be would thus be
indeterminate indeterminate with the with the
oldest flowers at the oldest flowers at the
base and the younger base and the younger
flowers progressively flowers progressively
closer to the apical closer to the apical
meristem meristem of the shoot. of the shoot.
= a = a raceme raceme
Raceme Raceme
Raceme Raceme
One modification of the basic raceme is to make it compound One modification of the basic raceme is to make it compound
compound compound
Panicle Panicle
The The panicle panicle is essentially is essentially
a series of attached a series of attached
racemes with the oldest racemes with the oldest
racemes at the base and racemes at the base and
the youngest at the apex the youngest at the apex
of the inflorescence. of the inflorescence.
( (Zigadenus Zigadenus or white camass) or white camass) Panicle
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Raceme Raceme
A second modification of the basic raceme is to lose its pedicels
Pedicel loss Pedicel loss
Spike Spike
The spike is usually
associated with congested
reduced flowers and often,
but not always, with wind
pollination.
( (Plantago Plantago or plantain) or plantain)
Spike Spike
wind pollinated wind pollinated
The spike is usually
associated with congested
reduced flowers and often,
but not always, with wind
pollination.
Spike Spike
animal pollinated animal pollinated
( (Combretum Combretum - Brent - Brent s plants) s plants)
Raceme Raceme
A third modification of the basic raceme is to lose its internodes A third modification of the basic raceme is to lose its internodes
Internode Internode loss loss
Umbel Umbel
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The The umbel umbel characterizes specific families (carrot and characterizes specific families (carrot and
ginseng families for example). ginseng families for example).
These families typically show a compound umbel - These families typically show a compound umbel -
smaller smaller umbellets umbellets on a larger umbel. on a larger umbel.
( (Cicuta Cicuta or water hemlock) or water hemlock)
Umbel Umbel
( (Zizia Zizia or golden alexander) or golden alexander)
The The umbel umbel is found scattered in many other families is found scattered in many other families
as well. as well.
( (Eriogonum Eriogonum or false buckwheat - family or false buckwheat - family
Polygonaceae Polygonaceae) - Ben ) - Ben s plants s plants
Umbel Umbel
Raceme Raceme
A fourth modification of the basic raceme is for the stem axis to form a head A fourth modification of the basic raceme is for the stem axis to form a head
Stem head Stem head
Head or Head or capitulum capitulum
The The head or head or capitulum capitulum characterizes specific characterizes specific
families - most notably the families - most notably the Compositae Compositae or or
Asteraceae Asteraceae. Not surprisingly, this family is closely . Not surprisingly, this family is closely
related to families possessing umbels. related to families possessing umbels.
( (Helianthus Helianthus or sunflower) or sunflower)
Head or Head or capitulum capitulum
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Besides these indeterminate inflorescences based on the Besides these indeterminate inflorescences based on the
raceme, there is a series of inflorescence types based on raceme, there is a series of inflorescence types based on
determinate determinate shoots (shoot can not grow up indefinitely). shoots (shoot can not grow up indefinitely).
The simplest is the The simplest is the dichasium dichasium. .
Raceme Raceme Dichasium Dichasium
The The dichasium dichasium inflorescence is inflorescence is
terminated (i.e., determinate) by the terminated (i.e., determinate) by the
oldest flower and flanked by two lateral oldest flower and flanked by two lateral
younger flowers. younger flowers.
Dichasium Dichasium
( (Clematis Clematis or virgin or virgin s-bower) s-bower)
oldest flower oldest flower
younger flowers younger flowers
One modification of the basic One modification of the basic dichasium dichasium is to make it compound is to make it compound
Dichasium Dichasium Cyme Cyme
compound compound
Cyme Cyme
( (Silene Silene or or campion campion) )
The The cyme cyme characterizes specific families - most characterizes specific families - most
notably the notably the Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae - the pink or - the pink or
carnation family . . . carnation family . . .
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Cyme Cyme
( (Lisianthius Lisianthius) )
or the or the Gentianaceae Gentianaceae - the gentian family. - the gentian family.
A second modification of the basic A second modification of the basic dichasium dichasium is to reduce it is to reduce it
Dichasium Dichasium Monochasium Monochasium
reduction reduction
Scirpoid Scirpoid
( (Mertensia Mertensia or bluebell) or bluebell)
The The monochasium monochasium is most often seen in compound is most often seen in compound
form as a form as a scirpoid scirpoid inflorescence. inflorescence. The The
Boraginaceae Boraginaceae (Virginia bluebell family) is (Virginia bluebell family) is
characterized by this distinctive inflorescence. characterized by this distinctive inflorescence.
Another specialized inflorescence is the Another specialized inflorescence is the catkin catkin or or ament ament
unisexual cluster of small flowers unisexual cluster of small flowers
apetalous apetalous (without petals) (without petals)
hard bracts around the flowers hard bracts around the flowers
wind pollinated wind pollinated
falls as a unit falls as a unit
( (Populus Populus or cottonwood) or cottonwood)
[male catkin] [male catkin] [female catkin] [female catkin]
( (Quercus Quercus or white oak) or white oak)
[male catkin] [male catkin]
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A final specialized inflorescence is the A final specialized inflorescence is the spadix spadix
thickened, fleshy spike thickened, fleshy spike
associated with associated with spathe spathe bract bract
frequently flowers unisexual frequently flowers unisexual
best developed in the aroid family ( best developed in the aroid family (Araceae Araceae) )
( (Symplocarpus Symplocarpus or skunk cabbage) or skunk cabbage) ( (Arisaema Arisaema or Jack-in-the-pulpit) or Jack-in-the-pulpit)
spadix spadix
spathe spathe