Editing Inflorescence (section)

===Compound inflorescences===
Simple inflorescences are the basis for compound inflorescences or '''synflorescences'''. The single flowers are there replaced by a simple inflorescence, which can be both a racemose or a cymose one. Compound inflorescences are composed of branched stems and can involve complicated arrangements that are difficult to trace back to the main branch.

A kind of compound inflorescence is the '''double inflorescence''', in which the basic structure is repeated in the place of single florets. For example, a double raceme is a raceme in which the single flowers are replaced by other simple racemes; the same structure can be repeated to form triple or more complex structures.

Compound raceme inflorescences can either end with a final raceme ('''homoeothetic'''), or not ('''heterothetic'''). A compound raceme is often called a '''panicle'''. This definition is very different from that given by [[Focko Weberling|Weberling]].

Compound umbels are umbels in which the single flowers are replaced by many smaller umbels called '''umbellets'''. The stem attaching the side umbellets to the main stem is called a '''ray'''.

<gallery>
Image:Doppeltraube_(inflorescence).svg|Homeothetic compound raceme
Image:Melilotus officinalis01.jpg|''[[Melilotus officinalis]]'' (homoeothetic compound raceme)
Image:Doppeltraube_2_(inflorescence).svg|Heterothetic compound raceme
Image:Hebe albicans.jpg|''[[Veronica albicans]]'' (heterothetic compound raceme)
Image:Inflorescences Muktispike Kwiatostan KłosZłożony.svg|Compound spike
Image:Lolium multiflorum detail.jpeg|''[[Lolium temulentum]]'' (compound spike)
Image:Doppelkoepfchen_(inflorescence).svg|Compound capitulum
Image:Echinops Ain France.jpg|''[[Echinops ritro]]'' (compound capitulum)
Image:Inflorescences Umbel Kwiatostan BaldachZłożony.svg|Compound (double) umbel
Image:Laserpitium latifolium2.jpg|''[[Laserpitium latifolium]]'' (double umbel)
Image:Dreifachdolde_(inflorescence).svg|Compound (triple) umbel
</gallery>

The most common kind of definite compound inflorescence is the '''panicle''' (of Webeling, or 'panicle-like cyme'). A panicle is a definite inflorescence that is increasingly more strongly and irregularly branched from the top to the bottom and where each branching has a terminal flower.

The so-called cymose '''corymb''' is similar to a racemose corymb but has a panicle-like structure. Another type of panicle is the '''anthela'''. An anthela is a cymose corymb with the lateral flowers higher than the central ones.

<gallery>
Image:Inflorescences Panicle Kwiatostan Wiecha.svg|[[Panicle]]
Image:Vigne inflorescence 2.jpg|''[[Vitis vinifera]]'' (panicle)
Image:Schirmrispe (inflorescence).svg|Cymose [[corymb]]
Image:Sambucus nigra 003.jpg|''[[Sambucus nigra]]'' (cymose corymb)
Image:Spirre (inflorescence).svg|Anthela
Image:Juncus inflexus.jpeg|''[[Juncus inflexus]]'' (anthela)
</gallery>

A raceme in which the single flowers are replaced by cymes is called a (indefinite) '''thyrse'''. The secondary cymes can be of any of the different types of dichasia and monochasia. A botryoid in which the single flowers are replaced by cymes is a '''definite thyrse''' or '''thyrsoid'''. Thyrses are often confusingly called '''panicles'''.

<gallery>
Homöokladische Thyrse (inflorescence).svg|Thyrse
Aesculus hippocastanum flori.jpg|''[[Aesculus hippocastanum]]''
Dichasialer zymus (inflorescence).svg|Thyrsoid
Syringa11.jpg|''[[Syringa vulgaris]]''
</gallery>

Other combinations are possible. For example, heads or umbels may be arranged in a corymb or a panicle.

<gallery>
Achillea (yarrow) - 16.JPG|''[[Achillea]]'' sp. (heads in a corymb)
Starr 010419-0021 Hedera helix.jpg|''[[Hedera helix]]'' (umbels in a panicle)
</gallery>