An inflorescence is a collection of flowers

Absolutely everyone agrees that the most beautiful part of any plant is a flower. He is not only glorified by poets and given by lovers - in nature he performs the function of sexual reproduction, which requires the process of pollination by insects. But if the plant has small flowers, the bees may not notice them. This problem is solved easily - an inflorescence is formed. This is a collection of small flowers, which has its own regularities.

Inflorescence of plants

The inflorescence is a rather complex structure. Flowers on the plant are arranged in a certain order, located on the same axis. By the nature of its branching, these structures are simple and complex.

Simple inflorescences

If the small flowers are located on one unramified axis, then we have simple inflorescences. They have several varieties.

Inflorescence of the basket is represented by sedentary flowers, located on an extended axis, similar to a saucer. Chamomile, cornflower and aster are examples of such plants.

Currant and lily of the valley has an inflorescence brush, which has single flowers attached to the main axis on the pedicels.

The plantain spike is a similar structure, but with sedentary flowers without petioles. If the axis is significantly thickened, then it already represents the ear, like corn.

An amazing specimen is the calla flower. It seems that this is a large single copy. In fact, we have a simple inflorescence of cobs.

Inflorescence umbrella has onions and garlic. The pedicels really attach to one point on the top of the axis like the spokes of a real umbrella.

Most representatives of the family Rosaceae inflorescence is called a scute. Pedicels also come out from the same point, but have different lengths, so collectively they are on the same level.

Complex inflorescences

If there are several simple inflorescences on the common axis, it is complex. They are widely distributed in nature. For example, the inflorescence of the basket of tansy or yarrow connects to the scutellum.

A complex dill umbrella consists of several simple similar inflorescences collected on one axis. But the panicles of lilac, oats and grapes are simple brushes, located on the lateral branches of the main axis.

Biological significance

The inflorescence is first of all the adaptation of plants to pollination. Indeed, because small flowers are gathered together, they more effectively attract insects to wind-pollinated plants. Inflorescences also attract their unique aroma. And the stigmas of pistils in such plants are arranged in such a way that the pollen is better captured by them even from the air.

Why do insects carry pollen from the stamens on the stigma of the pistil, providing the process of fertilization? They just look for sweet and tasty nectar, which is inside the flowers. Bees are able to process it into a useful delicacy - honey. But they pollinate only some plants. For example, buckwheat, linden or acacia. All of them have attractive outwardly and fragrant inflorescences. Not for nothing that these social insects are called real workers. Just think about how to get 1 g of honey, you need to pollinate up to 7 million flowers!

Bumblebees pollinate only the heads of clover. It is widely known that when this plant was brought to the Australian continent, it did not form seeds. For some time this was an unresolved issue, while scientists did not bring the necessary insects - pollinators.

It is also important that a flower is formed from each flower. Naturally, the number of seeds also increases, which is of great biological importance for species distribution.

Amazing series

But do not think that inflorescences are some miniature natural formations. In the photo you see agave. In its inflorescence, tens of thousands of flowers are collected. They bloom alternately from the bottom up, as the plant can not withstand such gravity at the same time.

The inflorescence is also a huge candle of the puya plant, which can be found in Peru. Its whisk reaches up to 10 m in height. To grow such a miracle, it must reach the age of 50 years with a total duration of 150. It is very unfortunate, but after flowering and the loss of seeds, the escape of the mother plant dies. And you have to start all over again. And the pollinators at the giant are also unusual - bats. Because of such features of life, puya is now considered a rare enough specimen. And breeders are persistently working on her cultivation in botanical gardens.

Can you imagine flowers with a diameter of 0.1 mm? Difficult, really. But the Australian duckweed inflorescences consist precisely of such formations. They are considered the smallest on the planet.

Such miracles are found in nature. A group of flowers can prolong the existence of the whole plant species. Moreover, most of the flowers are pollinated by insects. There is always a chance that some, especially single ones, will not be seen by them. But there is no such problem in the inflorescence.