Question

In helicoid cyme, the lateral flowers arise ______
A) On the same side
B) On alternate sides
C) In all the directions
D) From a common point

Answer 1

Hint: The word helicoid means a helical or spiral object or to make a helix.

Complete Answer:
The lateral flowers on a plant with helicoid cyme arise on the same side causing the formation of a spiral shape of the stem. Therefore the correct answer is A, i.e. on the same side.
E.g. of Helicoid cyme are Hamelia, Drosera, Myosotis, etc.

Additional knowledge:
The two main division of cyme inflorescence are Uniparous and biparous
1) Uniparous cyme or Monochasial cyme: The peduncle (The main stalk of an inflorescence) ends in a flower producing lateral branch. The two types of Monochasial cyme are Helicoid cyme and Scorpioid cyme.
Uniparous Helicoid cymes are of two types are-
- Drepanium—the lateral branches are in the same plane.
- Bostryx—the lateral branches are in the different plane
Examples of Helicoid cyme are Hamelia, Drosera, Myosotis, etc.

2) Dichasial or biparous cyme: The peduncle ends in a flower and from the basal part of the peduncle, two lateral branches arise.

Note: Another type of cyme is Scorpioid cyme, in which the lateral flowers arise on the opposite sides and the stem form a helix or spiral sometimes. Therefore it should not be confused with a helicoid cyme in which lateral flower arises on one side only.
E.g. Heliotropium solanum, Ranunculus, etc. Monochasial Scorpioid cymes are of two types
Rhipidium— the lateral branches are in the same plane.
Cincinnus—the lateral branches are in the different plane.