Question

What type of inflorescence is found in Ficus?
A. Cyathium
B. Umbel
C. Hypanthodium
D. Racemose

Answer 1

Hint: Inflorescence is the arrangement of flowers on plants. Stem with an inflorescence is called a peduncle and the stalk of each flower is called a pedicel. Inflorescence can be of four types namely, racemose, cymose, compound inflorescence and a special type of inflorescence.

Complete answer: The special type of inflorescence includes,
i. Cyathium
ii. Verticillaster
iii. Hypanthodium or Syconium.
Hypanthodium inflorescence commonly occurs in fig plants. Fig is called Ficus. They have a receptacle which is an urn-like structure. Inside the convex or involuted compound receptacle, numerous flowers are present. The opening is called Ostiole present at the apex. Male flowers are located at the periphery and female flowers are located at the bottom. A fig wasp enters this closed receptacle via ostiole. The fig wasps lose their wings in the process. On entering inside the receptacle they pollinate female flowers as they lay their eggs in some ovules. The ovules with egg forms galls. The wasps lay eggs and they die. Larval development occurs in the galls, although seeds develop in the pollinated flowers. After 4–6 weeks of egg-laying, the wingless males are born and they mate with the females in galls.
As the females arise, they collect pollen from male flowers, which ripen later. After the fig wasps arise, chemical changes occur and the fig develops into 'fruit'. Cyathium inflorescence occurs in Euphorbia. In raceme inflorescence, the main axis has indefinite growth. More or less equally pedicellate flowers are born. Example: (Radish) Raphanus sativus, (Mustard) Brassica nigra. Members of the Umbelliferae family exhibit umbel inflorescence.
So, from the above-given information, the correct answer to the given question is option C, i.e., Hypanthodium.

Note: The fig fruit of Ficus is a surrounded inflorescence, sometimes referred to as a syconium. In Umbel inflorescence, the main axis is shortened. Flowers appear to be developed at the same level. Older flowers are towards the periphery and younger are towards the center. It appears like an open umbrella.