inflorescence

in·flo·res·cence  (nfl-rsns) n. 1. a. A characteristic arrangement of flowers on a stem. b. A flower cluster. 2. A flowering. [New Latin nflrscentia, from Late Latin nflrscns, nflrscent-, present participle of nflrscere, to begin to flower : Latin in-, intensive pref.; see in-2 + Latin flrscere, to begin to blossom; see florescence.] inflo·rescent 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  (nfl-rsns) 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

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	inflorescence - the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms anthesis, blossoming, florescence, flowering, efflorescence growing, 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 stalk blossom, 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 ament, catkin - a cylindrical spikelike inflorescence 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 flower cluster - an inflorescence consisting of a cluster of flowers 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