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inflorescence
(redirected from inflorescent)

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.11 sec.
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.
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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.
click for a larger image
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
Noun1.inflorescenceinflorescence - the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms
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


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