Question

Three types of flowers occur in the inflorescence of
A. Raceme
B. Hypanthodium
C. Cyathium
D. Umbel

Answer 1

Hint: An inflorescence is a cluster of flowers on a stem that consists of a main branch or a complex branch arrangement. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the seed plant shoot where flowers are produced. The adjustments may include the length and nature of the internodes and phyllotaxis, as well as improvements in the proportions, compressions, swellings, adnations, connotations with decrease in main and secondary axis.

Complete answer:
A special form of inflorescence is Hypanthodium. Here, the receptacle is fleshy with an apical opening and forms a hollow ball like structure. On the inner surface of the receptacle, three types of flowers grow. The female flowers are towards the bottom, the male ones are towards the orifice and there are short sterile female flowers in between for eg., Ficus sp. A gall wasp pollinates the inflorescence.

Thus, option (B) Hypanthodium is the correct choice.

Additional information:
- A raceme is an unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence form along its axis bearing pedicellate flowers.
- The oldest flowers are borne towards the base in indeterminate inflorescence like racemes and new flowers are produced as the shoot grows, without a fixed growth limit.
- One of the peculiar false flowers(pseudanthium) forming the inflorescence of plants in the Euphorbia genus family is a cyathium.
- It is composed of five bracteoles, five nectar glands, one extremely reduced female flower standing in the center at the base.
- An Umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short pedicles which widens from a common point.
- These can be simple or compound. The arrangement may vary from being flat topped to almost spherical in nature.

Note: Remember that both Cyathium and Hypanthodium have unisexual flowers. The fruit that is developed from the Hypanthodium inflorescence is called Synchronous. Hypanthodium inflorescence is distinguished by having a fat and enclosed receptacle.