Page 14 - Lesson Notes-Morphologyof flowering plant

2. Cymose Inflorescence
In cymose inflorescence, the tip of the main axis terminates in a flower and further
growth continues by one or more lateral branches, which also behave like the main
axis.
The arrangement of flowers in either basipetal (younger flowers occupy basal
position, while older flowers towards the apex) or centrifugal (older towards center
and younger towards periphery).

3. Special Inflorescence
It mainly involves highly modified and densely crowded inflorescences.
The special type of inflorescence can be divided into following types
i. Cyathium
It is highly reduced and is a cup-shaped involucre of five bracts having nectariferous
glands. A single large female flower is present in the centre of the cup and scorpioid
male flowers surrounded this female flower. Every male flower is represented by a
single stalked stamen borne in the axil of a scaly bract, e.g, Euphorbia.
ii. Verticillaster
These are two clusters each having 3-9 flowers that develop on a node in the axils of
opposite leaves, e.g., Ocimum sanctum (basil).
iii. Hypanthodium
In this type, the main axis is condensed into a cup or flask-shaped, fleshy receptacle.
It bears three kinds of flowers, i.e., male flowers (towards the pore), female flowers
(towards the base) and neutral flowers occurs in between male and female flowers,
e.g., Peepal (Ficus relegiosa) and banyan (Ficus benghalensis).