All angiosperms have flowers. These are modified shoots. And some plants form single flowers, and some - whole inflorescences.
What is an inflorescence?
This is not a separate modified shoot, but their whole system, from which fruits with seeds are then formed. Inflorescences are usually delimited from the vegetative organs of the plant.
Classification of inflorescences
They can be classified depending on the presence of leaves on them, depending on the degree of branching, in the direction of opening of the flowers, by the type of their growth and by the type of apical meristems.
Inflorescence types depending on the degree of branching
This is the most common classification. Inflorescence types classified using this method are considered in biology classes at school.
According to this division, inflorescences can be, first of all, simple and complex.
Simple and complex inflorescences
Simple are those with single flowers located along the main axis.
Complex ones are those in which the branching is from three orders or more.
For a detailed review of each group of inflorescences, the table below is presented:
Types of inflorescences| Simple | A type | Description |
| Brush | Flowers are arranged evenly along the entire axis. They are planted on pedicels. |
| Ear | Flowers also more or less evenly grow along the entire length of the axis. However, such an inflorescence differs from a brush in that the flowers do not have pedicels. |
| Shield | This is a kind of brush. In the scutellum, the lower pedicels are longer, so that all the flowers line up in a horizontal row. |
| Umbrella | This, like many other simple types of inflorescences, a modified brush. Its axis is shortened, pedicels are not located along its entire length, but all grow from the top. They have the same length, and the flowers line up in something like an umbrella dome. |
| Head | The axis of this inflorescence has a club shape. She is shortened. Flowers are more or less evenly distributed along its entire length. Pedicels are absent. |
| Basket | The end of the axis of such an inflorescence is greatly expanded. It turns into a common bed for many tightly closed flowers. |
| Ear | This is a modified spike with a very thickened axis. |
| Difficult | Panicle | Branched inflorescence. The degree of branching decreases to the top of the axis. |
| Sophisticated visor | A modified version of the previous type of inflorescence. The internodes of the main axis are shortened. |
| Complex spike | Simple ears are more or less evenly spaced along the axis. |
| Cyme | Formed from many simple umbrellas collected on the main axis. |
So we examined the main types of inflorescences. They all need to know. Now let's talk about plants that are characterized by certain inflorescences.
Which plants have any inflorescences?
Let's look at plant species that have the inflorescences discussed above.
So, for example, in a plant such as spring primrose, the type of inflorescence is an umbrella, in corn - an ear.
In more detail, let's look at the table.
| Types of inflorescences | Plant examples |
| Brush | All cruciferous, for example, cabbage, turnips, watercress, shepherd’s bag |
| Ear | Lyubka, plantain, verbena, sedge |
| Shield | Pear |
| Umbrella | Ginseng, spring primrose, garlic, onion |
| Head | Clover |
| Basket | Many Asteraceae, such as sunflower, aster, etc. |
| Ear | Corn |
| Panicle | Lilac, Spirea |
| Sophisticated visor | Yarrow, mountain ash |
| Complex spike | Wheat, wheatgrass, barley |
| Cyme | Parsley, carrots, dill |
Other classification of inflorescences
Three groups are distinguished depending on the presence of bracts on inflorescences:
- ebracteous;
- bracteous;
- frontous.
Inflorescences of the first group lack bracts. This type includes cruciferous, as well as other plants, for example, wild radish.
In bracteose inflorescences, bracts are scaly in shape. These are lilac, cherry, lily of the valley.
Frontal inflorescences have bracts with well-developed plates. Such plants such as loosestrife, fuchsia, violets, etc. possess.
Depending on the type of growth and the direction of disclosure of the flowers, inflorescences can be divided into two groups:
In the first, the flowers open in the direction from the top of the axis to its base. Plants such as Lungwort belong to the group of cimicans.
In the racemose type, the flowers open in the direction from the base of the axis to its apex. These are plants such as, for example, a shepherd’s bag, as well as ivan tea and others.
And the last classification of inflorescences - depending on the type of apical meristems. These are educational tissues located at the top of the shoot. According to this classification, there are two groups of inflorescences:
Open are also called indefinite. In them, the apical meristems remain in a vegetative state. Hyacinths, lilies of the valley, etc. possess such inflorescences.
Closed are also called certain. In them, apical flowers are formed from apical meristems. Such possess, for example, a medunica, a bell.