Session: 2020-2021

Topic: Aestivation And Inflorescence

Submitted to
Dr. Manjulata Upadhyaya mam
Submitted by
Ritakshi Manral
 Aestivation
Mode of arrangement of Sepals & Petals in a flower w.r.t. the
members of the same whorl.

OR

The relative position of sepals ,petals or tepals in the bud

condition of the flower is termed as Aestivation. It is of the
following types.

1. Valvate aestivation 2. Twisted or Rotated aestivation

3. Imbricate aestivation 4. vexillary aestivation
5. Quincuntial aestivation
1.Valvate Aestivation- When the sepal , petal or tepal edeg come close
to each other but do not overlap such condition is called Valvate
Aestivation. Ex. Solanaceae (Datura, Calotropis)

2. Twisted or Rotated Aestivation- When the sepal petal and tepal edge
partially overlapping each other .In which one edge is exterior and
one interior it means all the petal ,sepal or tepals are Half exterior or
half interior . Ex.(Malvaceae Family )China Rose ,cotton, lady’’finger.
3. Imbricate Aestivation – One sepal , Petal or tepal lie completely outside
one completely inside and three remain twisted .It means one sepal,
petal or tepal is completely exterior, one interior and Three are half
exterior half interior Ex.( Brassicaceae Family) Bauhinia, Cassia,
Gulmohar

4.Quincuntial Aestivation –Two sepal ,petal or tepal edges lies completely

inside and two completely outside and one remain twisted it means two
sepal , petals or tepal are completely exterior two completely interior
and one half exterior half interior.
Ex. Convolvulaceae family (plant- Ipomoea)
5. Vexillary Aestivation- One large petal known as Vexillum or Standard
lie completely outside two lateral petals called Alae or wings are
medium sized and twisted two inner petals are smallest and fused
called Carina or keel.
Ex. Papilionaceae Family (Pulse family),Pea, Beans.

Vaxillary Aestivation
 Inflorescence
The arrangement of the flower on the Peduncle is called Inflorescence .
Peduncle is also known as floral axis .
Types of Inflorescence
1. Racemose 2. Cymose 3. Special Type

1.Racemose Inflorescence- In this type the growth of the floral axis is in

indeterminate( indefinate or continious) and it never ends in a flower.
The growth of floral axis (Peduncle) is not checked by a flower as the
flowers appears only on the lateral side of the floral axis. Flower
appears in Acropetal manner.

NOTE *Acropetal- Older at the base and younger towards apex

 Types of Raceme
A. Raceme - Peduncle has bisexual and pedicellate flowers arranged acropetally.
Ex.- Larkspur , Radish.

B. Spike - It is similar to raceme but the flower are Sessile.

Ex-callistemon , Amaranthus (Chaulai)

C. Spikelet - It is also called locusta .A few flowers spike is called spikelet The
spikelet has two basal empty sterile bract termed as glumes . The fertile bract is
called lemma.
Ex. Poaceae (Grass family) Wheat.
D. Catkin - It is usually a pendant inflorescence
or unisexual flowers it consist of male and female
flower. Ex. Piper nigrum, Morus , Oak .

E. Spadix - The inflorescence is covered by a large

bract known as Spathe. The axis becomes fleshy.
It is composed of unisexual flowers.
Ex. Musa paradisica, Colocasia.
Spathy- Inflorescence is covered by a brightly colored or
hard bract is called as spathy.

F. Corymb - It is similar to raceme but there is some

shortening of the axis at the top. Lower flowers are
long stalked while the upper flowers are short stalked.
So , all flowers appears almost at the same level.
Ex. Cauliflower , Cassia .
G. Umbel - Due to condensation of axis the flowers appear to be arising
from 1 point. The inflorescence is subtend by an involucre .
Ex. Coriander, Allium cepa

H. Head or capitulum- It consist of monomorphic or dimorphic florets

( Flower) born on a condensed axis called Receptecle. Florets are born in
acropetal manner but they appear centripetal . Inflorescence is
subtended by an involucre. Ex. Sunflower, Zinnia.
2. Cymose Inflorescence- The growth of floral axis is determinate and it
always ends in flower . The growth of floral axis is checked by a flower.
The order of the opening of the flowers is centrifugal. (Basipetal
Manner)
Types of Cymose inflorescence-
a. Uniparous ( Uniparous scorpiod and uniparous helicoid )
b. Biparous c. Multiparous d. Solitary
A. Uniparous – The axis terminate in a flower. One branch arise laterally .
It is again of two types. Scorpiod and Helicoid.
1. Scorpiod- The axis terminate in a flower lateral branches arising in
succession alternate with each other. It has bract opposite to the
flower. Ex. Gossipium (cotton)
2. Helicoid- The axis terminate in a flower .
Lateral branches arising successively appear
on the same side.Ex. Heliotropium

B. Biparous – The axis terminate in a flower two

flowers arise laterally in each subsequent
whorl. Ex. Jasmine

C. Multiparous – The axis terminate in a flower

more then two flowers arise laterally in each
subsequent whorl. Ex. Calotropis

D. Solitary –Highest degree of reduction in

cymose inflorescence in seen when the axillary
or terminal bud forms a single flower .
Ex. Hibiscus
3. Special type inflorescence –
A. verticillaster- Ex. Ocimum (Tulsi)
B. Cyathium – Ex. Euphorbia
C. Hypanthodium – Ficus (Bedu , Anzeer)

Ficus