in·flo·res·cence ( n fl -r s ns)n.1. a. A characteristic arrangement of flowers on a stem. b. A flower cluster. 2. A flowering.
[New Latin nfl r scentia, from Late Latin nfl r sc ns, nfl r scent-, present participle of nfl r scere, to begin to flower : Latin in-, intensive pref.; see in-2 + Latin fl r scere, to begin to blossom; see florescence.]
in flo·res cent adj. | inflorescence top left to right: umbel and corymb bottom left to right: panicle and raceme |
inflorescence Noun
Bot
1. the arrangement of the flowers on the stalks
2. the part of a plant that consists of the flower-bearing stalks
3. the process of flowering; blossoming [Latin in- into + florescere to bloom]
inflorescence ( n fl -r s ns) A group of flowers growing from a common stem, often in a characteristic arrangement. Also called flower cluster. | inflorescence top left to right: spike, raceme, panicle; center left to right: corymb, catkin, head; bottom left to right: umbel and compound umbel |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | inflorescence - the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossomsgrowing, growth, ontogenesis, ontogeny, maturation, development - (biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level; "he proposed an indicator of osseous development in children" |
| 2. | inflorescence - the flowering part of a plant or arrangement of flowers on a stalkblossom, flower, bloom - reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts flower head - a shortened compact cluster of flowers so arranged that the whole gives the effect of a single flower as in clover or members of the family Compositae umbel - flat-topped or rounded inflorescence characteristic of the family Umbelliferae in which the individual flower stalks arise from about the same point; youngest flowers are at the center corymb - flat-topped or convex inflorescence in which the individual flower stalks grow upward from various points on the main stem to approximately the same height; outer flowers open first cyme - more or less flat-topped cluster of flowers in which the central or terminal flower opens first spike - (botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis bract - a modified leaf or leaflike part just below and protecting an inflorescence |