Inflorescence

With inflorescence inflorescence or part of the shoot axis refers to a system which is used for flowering in seed plants and is therefore modified accordingly. Characteristic of this part of the shoot is the nature and extent of branching of the stem axis, whose Beblätterung as well as modifications in the form of stretching, compressions, swellings, adhesions or reductions in the major and minor axes. Thus, the inflorescence is an essential part of the habitus of the flowering plant and thus a superbly suitable for species identification within a family circle feature. Many inflorescences act on pollinators like a big flower, it can thus be better lure than with individual flowers. This advantage is especially true when the flowers are small and individually would be inconspicuous.

• 2.1 Simple inflorescences ( Botryen )
• 2.2 Compound inflorescences 2.2.1 Razemöse part inflorescences 2.2.1.1 Double Botryen
• 2.2.1.2 panicle and Related

• 2.2.2.1 Thyrsus
• 2.2.2.2 Cymoid

General

For all types of inflorescences can also find some type of overarching characteristics that occur in almost any desired combination. They supplement the designation of inflorescences in addition and do not affect typing.

Beblätterung

The distinction between the inflorescence as a generative and the vegetative part of the plant is often done on the basis of various Beblätterung:

• Absence of the leaves in the area of the inflorescence in whole or in part, and they are designed as bracts ( bracts ) and therefore differ from the other Beblätterung, one speaks of a brakteosen Beblätterung or brakteosen inflorescence.
• In leafy bracts often speak of a flowering shoot instead of inflorescence. Since these sheets in spite of their foliage leaf -like appearance have also bract -like features, frondoser inflorescence is the more appropriate term.
• Furthermore, there is a connecting intermediate form of frondo - brakteose inflorescence.
• In Infloreszenzbereich can so many woody plants, but also leaves occur without any bract characteristics. It is small leaves, which are derived from the regular foliage leaves by a uniform series of reduction. This is known as fronduloser Beblätterung, the transition to frondosen inflorescence forms of frondo - frondulose inflorescence.

Full brakteose Beblätterung

Frondo - brakteose Beblätterung

Frondose Beblätterung

The obsolete strict division into inflorescence ( brakteos ) and flowering shoot ( frondos ) with the different bracts is now given way to a division, in which the various forms of inflorescences are defined in a sense broader classification with the different sheets as a linking element. A flowering shoot should therefore always be accordingly called frondoser inflorescence.

Terminal flower

For the formation of the vegetation top, there are two possibilities, namely, whether it develops a terminal flower or not. The presence or absence of a terminal flower in the flowering plants is characteristic of all lineages.

Closed inflorescence

Forms the shoot tip a terminal flower and consumed by the fact it is called a closed or determinate inflorescence. The individual petals follow exactly to the sequence of previous leaves ( phyllotaxis ). The terminal flower blooms usually first on ( präkursive development ), the pages or Lateralblüten subject in their flourishing ( Effloration ) is usually a promotion from the base to the tip upwards ( acropetally ), often also from the top downward ( basipetal ), more rarely, to both pages ( divergent). Due to lack of growth stimuli than hunger or shape of the inflorescence can only be reduced to come to training and be completely restricted to the terminal flower.

Closed inflorescence with basipetaler Effloration

Closed inflorescence with divergent Effloration

Open inflorescence

Forms the shoot tip instead of a flower bracts continue with buds in their armpits and ends blindly in a usually tapered, rudimentary end, then there is an open inflorescence. The landscaped flower buds bloom either all on or they occur after casually in ever further reduction to the indeterminate shoot apex, which may be capable of further growth even (proliferation ). The frequent tendency in plants that lack of terminal tip is replaced by the closest ( Übergipfelung ), can also show here: The flower beneath the rudimentary shoot tip straightens up and is apparently the new terminal flower. Is their lateral origin nor to recognize the best by a still visible rudiment, it is named as Subterminalblüte, the lateral origin of which is not even evolutionary detectable, but only in comparison with related species, they are called pseudo terminal flower.

Open inflorescence with acropetal Effloration with flower buds

Open inflorescence with Subterminalblüte and rudimentary shoot apical

Approach of the branches

Although the type of branching is a fundamental differentiator for the different inflorescences, the approach of the minor axis and its supporting sheet at the inflorescence axis, however, are for the typing of the inflorescence not a concern. The different possible approaches depend on the position of the leaves.

Dekussierte branching

Metatopie

The inflorescence or a single flower -bearing side axis is always in the armpits of a carrier sheet. It can also be a Metatopie ( displacement) occur, two cases are possible:

• When Konkauleszenz the lateral axis is fused to part with their descent axis. This means that the flowers here is much higher on the stem sit as the associated bracts.
• When Rekauleszenz the lateral axis is partially fused with the stem of the liner sheet. The flowers are shifted in the direction sheet.

Konkauleszenz

Rekauleszenz

Classical classification

In the classic typology of inflorescences is used to distinguish the main groups of branching. Within this, the type is determined by the branching of the axes and especially their modification.

Simple inflorescences ( Botryen )

In the simple inflorescence is a branch type a mono podium before, so a main axis with branching minor axes of the first degree ( unbranched). Traditionally this type of branching, however, referred to in inflorescences than razemös and not as monopodial. The basic type is the grape ( Botrys ), the other inflorescences can all be derived by stretching, compression, thickening or reduction of various axle parts from it. According to occur frequently transitional forms that mediate between the clearly formed shapes. Inflorescences of this type include, along with the Rispentypen commonly known to the name.

Screen grape

Spike, spikelet ( only 1-3 flowers)

Spigot

Piston

Brains

Basket

Umbel

Kittens ( grape or ear kitten)

Compound inflorescences

In a composite inflorescence ( complex inflorescence) provides a simple inflorescence base dar. its inflorescences, however, by a respective part of inflorescence ( Partialinfloreszenz ) to be replaced. This may be branched or razemös zymös. Just thereafter is divided into two groups.

Razemöse part inflorescences

Double Botryen

Replacing the Blossom by part inflorescences of the same basic structure, one obtains a corresponding double Botryum ( Dibotryum ). For example, a double- screw a grape, whose flowers have been replaced by one each grape. This happens only in the lateral flowers, one obtains the homöothetische form, additional forms the main axis or a grape from, one obtains the heterothetische form. The flowers of the partial inflorescences in turn can be replaced by another partial inflorescences, it results in a new branch level. But this is always done with the underlying structure. Depending on the number of times one speaks of Dibotryum and Tribotryum, later only from the general Pleiobotryum.

Heterothetische double screw

Doppelähre

Double Cup

Compound umbel

Triple cone, a Tribotryum

Panicle and Related

When the entire panicle inflorescence, and the partial inflorescences are always terminated with a terminal flower. The partial inflorescences are branched increasingly stronger and irregular downward. The side branches according to their number of flowers as monads ( a flower), dyads ( two flowers ) or triads called ( three flowers), they are highly branched as an independent panicle is called Spezialrispen. Overall, this results in a conical shape. By an appropriate extension of the side branches differs this appearance of a flat or slightly curved shape, the corymb, and at higher overstretching a funnel-shaped appearance in the Spirre. Impoverished a panicle of branches, so it looks like a grape, just a any remaining branched side branch and especially the ever-present terminal flower make sure it clear that it is beyond doubt is a panicle. Because of the similarity to grape ( Botryrs ) to call this the botryoid ( With ears like shape Stachyoid ). With the loss of the terminal flower of the way of reduction to the grape is finally completely trodden.

Corymb

Spirre or Trichterrispe

Botryoid, with indicated branching

Zymöse part inflorescences

When zymösen part of inflorescence or short Zyme is a branch type before a sympodium. The main axis ends in a flower that branches off from the continue reading secondary axes often culminate the terminal flower, branch out further and then end up with just a flower. Depending on the number and type of branching, which originate from an axis of the various Partialinfloreszenzen be distinguished:

• Two minor axes dichasial: Two transverse bracteoles, two side axes: dichasium
• Two transverse bracteoles, first branch with two side axes, then only formed a lateral axis: double winding or Doppelschraubel

• Two transverse bracteoles, but formed only a lateral axis: Wrap or Schraubel
• A median cover page, a page axis: Fächel or sickle

The types with two continue reading occur in the dicotyledons on, rare in monocots, a cover sheet reversed in monocots and rare in dicotyledons.

Since it is not clear let the structures in side view differ from each other is shown additionally shows the schematic structure from above.

Dichasium schematically from above

Double wrap

Doppelschraubel

Reel

Winding, schematically from above

Schraubel

Schraubel schematically from above

Fächel

Fächel schematically from above

Sickle

Sickle, schematically from above

Thyrsus

Should there be several cymes on a racemösen main axis of the inflorescence so it is called a thyrsus. The main axis is compressed the type establishes a grape, oar or capitula -like. Terminal flowers are not always available.

Thyrsus with wrap - cymes

Thyrsus with double winding cymes

If the zymösen part inflorescences in turn replaced by thyrsi, one speaks analogous to the Spezialrispen of Spezialthyrsen, we obtain, as in the double Botryen, Doppelthyrsen or Pleiothyrsen. Similarly, a distinction is in homöokladische or heterokladische shape, simple thyrsi are always homöokladisch.

Heterokladische Thyrse

Disjunct heterokladische Thyrse

Pleiothyrse

Cymoid

Even if the part inflorescences are branched zymös, the underlying structure is always razemös. So there is no zymösen inflorescences. By suitable reduction of the structure of the entire inflorescence, however, can appear purely zymös. One then speaks of a Cymoid. Starting from the closed Thyrsusformen all cymes are not formed up to the terminal located in these. According to the number of remaining cymes to monochasiale, dichasiale or pleoichasiale Cymoide result. By akrotone promote the depletion is exacerbated in cymes. If the Pleiochasium, which already shows a umbel- like character, the axes, apart from the flower stems, fully reduced, resulting in a false umbel, which can be seen only by the first terminal flower blossoming as such.

Double Wicke Liges Cymoid

Twin screw Liges Cymoid

Wicke Liges or fächeliges Cymoid

Screw Liges or crescent Cymoid

Pleiochasium

Trugdolde

Curiosities

• Raimondii Puya ( Bromeliaceae ): highest inflorescence in the world.
• Titan Arum ( Araceae ): inflorescence is the world's largest flower.
• Genus Corypha ( palm family ): largest inflorescence in the world with an estimated 10 million flowers.
• Cephalien (from the Greek head) are showy inflorescence zones, which are made ​​of several cactus plants.