Inflorescences: types of inflorescences of plants

Our article will be devoted to such a biological concept as inflorescences. Types of inflorescences, structural features and their biological significance, examples - consider this and much more.

What is inflorescence

Flowers can be arranged singly. They are usually large in size and have a brightly colored corolla. But small ones are usually united in inflorescences. But this is not a bouquet. In this structure, all the flowers are arranged on the same axis in a certain order and are subject to their own patterns.

Inflorescence: inflorescence types

There are several types of inflorescences of plants. They are classified according to the principle of axle breaking and the peculiarities of the arrangement of flowers. According to these characteristics, simple and complex types of inflorescence of plants are distinguished. In the first case, the individual elements are located on one axis, which is unramified. An example of it can serve as a brush of lily of the valley. But before us is a scheme, the types of inflorescences on which represent another group. They are complex. Note that in this case the flowers are collected on a common axis.

Inflorescence types: examples

Inflorescences are quite unique structures. The number of components in it can range from several pieces to tens of thousands. The record holder is a tropical agave plant. In natural conditions, its inflorescence appears around 10-15 years of life. Its axis can reach about ten meters. And the number of flowers is close to 10 thousand. This plant is a true record holder. However, this blossoms a miracle of nature once in a lifetime, after which it dies. And as a result, new young bulbs of small agaves are formed.

Simple inflorescences

Types of inflorescences of plants that have a single axis are called simple. The most common of these are the brush, ear, scutellum and umbrella. All the inflorescences, regardless of their type, have a clear structure. For example, a brush is an axis on which flowers are alternately attached. Its structure is illustrated by a diagram. Types of inflorescences having this structure are characteristic of lily of the valley, bird cherry, red and black currant, cabbage, lupine.

But the plantain and sedge flowers are also located on the axis of the next. However, all of them are sedentary, that is, they do not have pedicels. This structure is called the ear. It is characteristic of all cereal plants. The ear, whose axis is considerably thickened, is called the cob. His examples are corn and calla. Flowers located along the main axis form a shield. It can be found at apple, plum, quince. And the lower pedicels are longer than the upper ones. Therefore, all the flowers are in the shield approximately on one level.

The next simple inflorescence is an umbrella. It really looks like a device from the rain. All pedicels meet at one point of the tip of the axis, like the umbrella spokes. Cherry, primrose, onions and honesty are plants for which it is characteristic.

Clover has an inflorescence, which is called the head. Its main axis is thickened and shortened. A basket of cornflower, chamomile and sunflower is formed by sedentary flowers. They are attached to the extended axis, which in appearance resembles a saucer.

Complex inflorescences

The type of flower inflorescence in rye and barley is a complex ear. It is typical for many representatives of the family Cereals. The panicle is arranged differently. It can be a collection of simple brushes, like those of grapes and lilacs. The second version of the panicle is a group of spikelets that are located on the lateral branches. Such a structure has inflorescences of millet, rice and oats.

The regularity of the structure of complex inflorescences is that they are a collection of simple ones. So the yarrow and tansy are arranged. It consists of simple baskets. And in lilac and grapes this type of inflorescence consists of simple shields. A complex umbrella of parsley, carrots and dill is additionally surrounded by bracts.

The biological significance of inflorescences

Here so various inflorescences. Types of inflorescences, regardless of the features, play a very important role in plant life. They make the process of pollination more effective - the transfer of pollen from the stamen to the pestle. The result of this process is the formation of fruits and seeds. In other words, generative reproduction of angiosperms. Flowers that are located on the shoot alone, have a fairly large size, bright color and attractive aroma. They are immediately noticed by insects. But if the flowers are small and discreet, bees and butterflies are unlikely to pay attention to them. For this, in nature there are special adaptations. They are the inflorescences. They are more visible to pollinators. However, inflorescences are formed in plants, in which fertilization occurs with the help of wind. In this form they better catch the pollen that is in the air. In addition, important is the fact that a greater number of fruits are formed in the inflorescence. This sign increases the economic value, contributes to the increase in species diversity, abundance and distribution.

So, we have examined what inflorescences are, the types of inflorescences, examples and their biological significance. By structure, these structures are simple and complex. This collection of flowers is found in representatives of almost all families of Angiosperms, contributing to the effectiveness of pollination, and thus their sexual reproduction, species diversity and distribution across the planet.