Cymose inflorescence

Inflorescences may also have classified based on branching, number and arrangement of flowers, and some specialized structures.

I.   Indeterminate (racemose)

II.   Determinate (cymose)

III.   Mixed inflorescence: Inflorescence of some plants show a combination of indeterminate and determinate pattern

IV.   Special inflorescence: Inflorescence which do not confined to these patterns

Cymose inflorescence.

Central axis stops growing and ends in a flower, further growth is by means of axillary buds. Old flowers present at apex and young flowers at base

1. Simple cyme (solitary): Determinate inflorescence consists of a single flower. It may be terminal or axillary. Example: terminal in Trillium grandiflorum and axillary in Hibiscus.

2. Monochasial Cyme (uniparous): The main axis ends with a flower. From two lateral bracts, only one branch grows further. It may be helicoid (bostryx) or Scorpioid (cincinnus).

a. Helicoid: Axis develops on only one side and forms a coil structure atleast at the earlier development stage. Example: Hamelia, potato.

b. Scorpioid: Axis develops on alternate sides and often becomes a coil structure. Example: Heliotropium.

3. Simple dichasium (Biparous): A central axis ends in a terminal flower; further growth is produced by two lateral buds. Each cymose unit consists of three flowers of which central one is old one. This is true cyme. Example: Jasminum.

4. Compound dichasium: It has many flowers. A terminal old flower develops lateral simple dichasial cymes on both sides. Each compound dichasium consists of seven flowers. Example: Clerodendron.

A small,simple dichasium is called cymule

5. Polychasial Cyme (multiparous): The central axis ends with a flower. The lateral axes branches repeatedly. Example: Nerium

Sympdial Cyme: In monochasial cyme, successive axes at first develop in a zigzag manner and later it develops into a straight pseudo axis.

Example: Solanum americanum.