Types of Inflorescences : Meaning and its Types MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

The Types of Inflorescences

• Growth of plant organs can occur according to two different schemes:

1. Monopodial
2. Sympodial

• In monopodial scheme of growth, the terminal bud continues to grow and remains intact.  It grows as a leader shoot. The lateral branching occurs with the help of axillary buds. There is a single growing point, hence monopodial.
• In sympodial scheme of  growth, the terminal bud ceases to grow and terminates into a definite structure. The axillary bud gives rise to a new leader shoot. There are many growing points in a plant.
• In inflorescences, monopodial growth pattern is called indeterminate while sympodial growth pattern is called determinate.
• In indeterminate inflorescence, the terminal bud does not cease to grow and never forms terminal flower. The lateral flowers and formed. Such inflorescences are also open inflorescences.
• In determinate inflorescences, the terminal bud develops into terminal bud. It ceases to grow. The lateral flowers take over the main branching. Such inflorescences are also closed inflorescences.
• Depending on whether the apex gets converted into a flower or continues to grow, there are two major types of inflorescences:

1. Racemose: it is indeterminate and open type of inflorescence
2. Cymose: it is determinate and closed type of inflorescence