Editing Inflorescence (section)

===Simple inflorescences===
[[File:Sunflower macro wide.jpg|thumb|Inflorescence of sessile disc florets forming the [[Head (botany)|capitulum]]]]

====Indeterminate or racemose====
Indeterminate simple inflorescences are generally called '''racemose''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|æ|s|ᵻ|m|oʊ|s}}. The main kind of racemose inflorescence is the '''raceme''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|æ|s|iː|m}}, from classical Latin ''racemus'', [[cluster of grapes]]).<ref>Oxford English Dictionary. Raceme 2. Bot. A type of inflorescence in which the flowers are arranged on short, nearly equal, lateral pedicels, at equal distances along a single elongated axis</ref> The other kind of racemose inflorescences can all be derived from this one by dilation, compression, swelling or reduction of the different axes. Some passage forms between the obvious ones are commonly admitted.
* A '''[[raceme]]''' is an unbranched, [[indeterminate growth|indeterminate]] inflorescence with pedicellate (having short floral stalks) flowers along the axis.
* A '''[[raceme|spike]]''' is a type of raceme with flowers that do not have a pedicel.
* A racemose '''[[corymb]]''' is an unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence that is flat-topped or convex due to their outer pedicels which are progressively longer than inner ones.
* An '''[[umbel]]''' is a type of raceme with a short axis and multiple floral pedicels of equal length that appear to arise from a common point. It is characteristic of [[Umbelliferae]].
* A '''[[spadix (botany)|spadix]]''' is a spike of flowers densely arranged around it, enclosed or accompanied by a highly specialised bract called a '''[[spadix (botany)|spathe]]'''. It is characteristic of the family [[Araceae]].
* A '''[[Pseudanthium|flower head]]''' or '''capitulum''' is a very contracted raceme in which the single sessile flowers share are borne on an enlarged stem. It is characteristic of [[Dipsacaceae]].
* A '''[[catkin]]''' or '''ament''' is a scaly, generally drooping spike or raceme. Cymose or other complex inflorescences that are superficially similar are also generally called thus.

<gallery>
Image:Traube (inflorescence).svg|[[Raceme]]
Image:Epilobe feuilles etroites 01.jpg|''[[Epilobium angustifolium]]''
Image:Inflorescences Spike Kwiatostan Kłos.svg|Spike
Image:Plantagomedia.JPG|''[[Plantago media]]'' (spike)
Image:Schirmtraube (inflorescence).svg| Racemose [[corymb]]
Image:Schleifenblume06.jpg|''[[Iberis umbellata]]'' (racemose corymb)
Image:Inflorescences Umbel Kwiatostan Baldach.svg|[[Umbel]]
Image:Astrantia minor.jpg|''[[Astrantia minor]]'' (umbel)
Image:Kolben (inflorescence).svg|[[Spadix (botany)|Spadix]]
Image:Arum maculatum.jpeg|''[[Arum maculatum]]'' (spadix)
Image:Koepfchen (inflorescence).svg|[[Pseudanthium|Head]] (round)
Image:Fleur 9 - VTdJ.JPG|''[[Dipsacus fullonum]]'' (head)
Image:Kaetzchen (inflorescence).svg|[[Catkin]] (racemose or spicate)
Image:Alnus incana rugosa catkin.jpg|''[[Alnus incana]]'' (ament)
</gallery>

====Determinate or cymose====
{{Anchor|cyme|cymose}}
Determinate simple inflorescences are generally called '''cymose'''. The main kind of cymose inflorescence is the '''cyme''' (pronounced {{IPAc-en|s|aɪ|m}}), from the Latin ''cyma'' in the sense 'cabbage sprout', from Greek ''kuma'' 'anything swollen').<ref>Collins English Dictionary. 8th Edition first published in 2006</ref><ref>Oxford English Dictionary. Cyme(1) Bot. A species of inflorescence wherein the primary axis bears a single terminal flower which develops first, the system being continued by axes of secondary and higher orders which develop successively in like manner; a centrifugal or definite
inflorescence: opposed to [[Raceme]]. Applied esp. to compound inflorescences of this type forming a more or less flat head.</ref> Cymes are further divided according to this scheme:
* Only one secondary axis: '''monochasium'''
** Secondary buds always develop on the same side of the stem: '''helicoid cyme''' or '''bostryx'''
*** The successive pedicels are aligned on the same plane: '''drepanium'''
** Secondary buds develop alternately on the stem : '''scorpioid cyme'''
*** The successive pedicels are arranged in a sort of spiral: '''cincinnus''' (characteristic of the [[Boraginaceae]] and [[Commelinaceae]])
*** The successive pedicels follow a zig-zag path on the same plane: '''rhipidium''' (many [[Iridaceae]])
* Two secondary axes: '''dichasial cyme'''
** Secondary axis still dichasial: '''dichasium''' (characteristic of [[Caryophyllaceae]])
** Secondary axis monochasia: '''double scorpioid cyme''' or '''double helicoid cyme'''
* More than two secondary axes: '''pleiochasium'''

<gallery>
File:Monochasium(inflorescence).svg|Simple dichasium
File:Doppelwickel (inflorescence).svg|Double cyme
File:Doppelschraubel (inflorescence).svg|Double cyme
File:Schroef (bloeiwijze).jpg|Bostryx (lateral and top view)
File:Saint John's wort flowers.jpg|''[[Hypericum perforatum]]'' (bostryx)
File:Sikkel (bloeiwijze).jpg|Drepanium (lateral and top view)
File:Gladiolus imbricatus a1.jpg|''[[Gladiolus imbricatus]]'' (drepanium)
File:Schicht.jpg|Cincinnus (lateral and top view)
File:Symphytum officinale 02.jpg|''[[Symphytum officinale]]'' (cincinnus)
File:Waaier (bloeiwijze).jpg|Rhipidium (lateral and top view)
File:Canna Endeavour 01.jpg|''[[Canna (plant)|Canna]] sp.'' (rhipidium)
File:Dichasium (inflorescence).svg|Dichasium
File:Dichasium (top view) (inflorescence).svg|Dichasium, top view
File:2006-10-22Silene dioica07.jpg|''[[Silene dioica]]'' (dichasium)
</gallery>

A cyme can also be so compressed that it looks like an umbel. Strictly speaking this kind of inflorescence could be called '''umbelliform cyme''', although it is normally called simply 'umbel'.

Another kind of definite simple inflorescence is the raceme-like cyme or '''botryoid'''; that is as a raceme with a terminal flower and is usually improperly called 'raceme'.

<gallery>
Image:Inflorescences Umbel Kwiatostan Baldach.svg|Umbelliform cyme
Image:Fiore di geranio.JPG|''[[Pelargonium zonale]]'' (umbelliform cyme)
Image:Botryoid (inflorescence).svg|Botryoid
Image:Berberis vernae MS 4426.jpg|''Berberis vernae'' (botryoid)
</gallery>

A reduced raceme or cyme that grows in the [[axil]] of a bract is called a '''fascicle'''. A '''verticillaster''' is a fascicle with the structure of a dichasium; it is common among the [[Lamiaceae]]. Many verticillasters with reduced bracts can form a spicate (spike-like) inflorescence that is commonly called a '''spike'''.

<gallery>
Image:Gentiana lutea1.JPG|''[[Gentiana lutea]]'' (fascicles)
Image:Lamium orvala3.jpg|''[[Lamium orvala]]'' (verticillaster)
Image:Mentha longifolia 2005.08.02 09.53.56.jpg|''[[Mentha longifolia]]'' ('spike')
</gallery>