Illustration of inflorescence
- 1 raceme
- 2 corymb
- 3 umbel
- 4 compound umbel
- 5 capitulum
- 6 spike
- 7 compound spike
- 8 panicle
- 9 cyme
inflorescence
noun
in·flo·res·cence
ˌin-flə-ˈre-sᵊn(t)s 
1
a
: the mode of development and arrangement of flowers on an axis
b
: a floral axis with its appendages
also
: a flower cluster
2
: the budding and unfolding of blossoms : flowering
Examples of inflorescence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The structures that look like mushrooms are instead inflorescences, or a cluster of flowers intricately arranged on a stem.
—
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Sep. 2023
Flowers with four petals are borne on terminal inflorescences and lack bracts.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 28 Aug. 2023
Curiosity was high for the pungent plant, which grew a reputation for being the world’s largest flower (although that’s not entirely true — the corpse flower is actually the largest unbranched inflorescence).
—Cari Spencer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2023
Among a very limited group of African species that can grow outside in mid-latitude gardens, the pokers offer striking, architectural foliage with erect spikes of flowers in a range of colors from yellow to orange, red and even some with multiple colors on the same inflorescence.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2021
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Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Sep. 2023
Flowers with four petals are borne on terminal inflorescences and lack bracts.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 28 Aug. 2023
Curiosity was high for the pungent plant, which grew a reputation for being the world’s largest flower (although that’s not entirely true — the corpse flower is actually the largest unbranched inflorescence).
—Cari Spencer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2023
Among a very limited group of African species that can grow outside in mid-latitude gardens, the pokers offer striking, architectural foliage with erect spikes of flowers in a range of colors from yellow to orange, red and even some with multiple colors on the same inflorescence.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2021
See all Example Sentences for inflorescence
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Dictionary Entries Near inflorescence
Cite this Entry
“Inflorescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflorescence. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inflorescence
noun
in·flo·res·cence
ˌin-flə-ˈres-ᵊn(t)s
1
a
: the pattern of development and arrangement of flowers on a stalk
b
: a flowering stalk with all its parts
also
: a flower cluster or sometimes a flower that grows alone
2
: the forming and unfolding of blossoms
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