Absolutely everyone would agree that the most beautiful part of any plant is the flower. It is not only glorified by poets and given by lovers - in nature it performs the function of sexual reproduction, which requires the process of pollination by insects. But if the plant has small flowers, the bees may not notice them. This problem is easily solved - an inflorescence is formed. This is a collection of small flowers, which has its own patterns.
Plant inflorescences
An inflorescence is a rather complex structure. Flowers on the plant are arranged in a certain order, located on the same axis. By the nature of its branching, these structures are simple and complex.
Simple inflorescences
If small flowers are located on one unbranched axis, then we have simple inflorescences in front of us. They have several varieties.
Inflorescence basket is represented by sessile flowers located on an extended axis similar toon a saucer. Chamomile, cornflower and aster are examples of such plants.
Currant and lily of the valley have a raceme inflorescence, which has single flowers on pedicels attached to the main axis.
Plantain spike - similar structure, but with sessile flowers without petioles. If the axis is significantly thickened, then it is already an ear, like corn.
An amazing specimen is the calla flower. It seems to be a large single copy. In fact, we have a simple cob inflorescence.
Inflorescence umbrella have onions and garlic. The pedicels are really attached to one point on the top of the axis, like the spokes of a real umbrella.
In most representatives of the Rosaceae family, the inflorescence is called a shield. The pedicels also come out from the same point, but have different lengths, so they are on the same level in the aggregate.
Complex inflorescences
If several simple inflorescences are located on a common axis, it is complex. They are quite widespread in nature. For example, the inflorescence of the basket of tansy or yarrow is connected to a shield.
The complex umbrella of dill consists of several simple similar inflorescences collected on the same axis. But panicles of lilac, oats and grapes are simple brushes located on the side branches of the main axis.
Biological significance
Inflorescence is, first of all, the adaptation of plants to pollination. Indeed, due to the fact that small flowers are collectedtogether, they are more effective at attracting insects to wind-pollinated plants. Inflorescences are also attracted by their unique aroma. And the stigmas of the pistils of such plants are designed in such a way that pollen is better captured by them even from the air.
Why do insects transfer pollen from stamens to the stigma of the pistil, ensuring the process of fertilization? They are simply looking for the sweet and delicious nectar that is found inside the flowers. Bees are able to process it into a useful delicacy - honey. But they pollinate only some plants. For example, buckwheat, linden or acacia. All of them have attractive externally and fragrant inflorescences. No wonder these social insects are called real workers. Just think, to get 1 g of honey, you need to pollinate up to 7 million flowers!
Bumblebees pollinate only clover heads. It is a widely known fact that when this plant was brought to the Australian continent, it did not form seeds. For some time this was an unresolved issue, until scientists brought in the necessary insects - pollinators.
It is also important that absolutely every flower forms a fruit. Naturally, the number of seeds is also increasing, which is of great biological importance for the distribution of species.
Amazing is near
But do not think that the inflorescences are some kind of miniature natural formations. In the photo in front of you is an agave. Tens of thousands of flowers are collected in its inflorescence. They bloom alternately from bottom to top, as the plant may not be able to withstand such weight at the same time.
The inflorescence is also a huge candle of the puya plant, which can bemeet in Peru. Its panicle reaches up to 10 m in height. For such a miracle to grow, it must reach the age of 50 years with a total duration of 150. It is a pity, but after flowering and seeding, the shoot of the mother plant dies. And everything has to start over. And the giant's pollinators are also unusual - bats. Because of these features of the life of the puya, it is now considered a rather rare specimen. And breeders are working hard to breed it in botanical gardens.
Can you imagine flowers with a diameter of 0.1 mm? Difficult, really. But in the Australian duckweed, the inflorescences consist of precisely such formations. They are considered the smallest on the planet.
These are miracles found in nature. A group of flowers is able to prolong the existence of the whole plant species. Moreover, most flowers are pollinated by insects. There is always a chance that some, especially single ones, will not be noticed by them. But in the inflorescence there is no such problem.
