The upcoming discussion will update you about the differences between Racemose Inflorescence and Cymose Inflorescence.
Difference # Racemose Inflorescence:
1. The growing point seldom ends in a flower.
2. Flowers arise laterally.
3. The floral axis or peduncle is monopodial.
4. The formation of flowers is indefinite or unrestricted.
5. A lost growing point is rarely replaced in the floral axis.
6. The flowers are formed on all sides.
7. The bracteate flowers are borne in the axils of the bracts.
8. The arrangement of flowers is acropetal.
9. The grouping of the flowers is less common.
10. The flowers open at short intervals.
11. A single insect visit can pollinate a large number of flowers.
12. The arrangement of flowers in a group is centripetal, that is, the younger flowers are towards the centre and the older towards the outside.
13. In racemose grouping the newly formed fruits are not protected by flowers, since they lie towards the outside.
Difference # Cymose Inflorescence:
1. The growing point always forms a flower.
2. Flowers are actually terminal.
3. The floral axis is sympodial or multipodial.
4. A definite or restricted number of flowers is formed.
5. A lost growing point does not interfere much in the formation of more flowers.
6. The flowers can be restricted to one side only as in helicoid uniparous cyme.
7. In uniparous cyme the ‘bracts’ when present, are formed on the side opposite the origin of flowers.
8. The actual arrangement is basipetal which is clearly visible in biparous and multiparous cymes.
9. The grouping of the flowers is more common.
10. The flowers open at long intervals and the total flowering period is much longer.
11. An insect cannot pollinate many flowers in one visit though flowers are grouped more frequently.
12. The arrangement of flowers in a cymose head and other types of groupings is centrifugal, that is, the older flowers are towards the centre and the younger towards the periphery.
13. The newly formed fruits are protected by flowers in cymose grouping.