Q.Differentiate between

(a) Racemose vs cymose inflorescence

• In a racemose inflorescence, the main axis continues to grow and does not terminate in a flower; the flowers are borne laterally in an acropetal succession (older flowers below, younger towards the top).
• In a cymose inflorescence, the main axis terminates in a flower and so has limited growth; the flowers are borne in a basipetal order (older at the top/centre, younger below/towards the sides).

(b) Apocarpous vs syncarpous ovary

• In an apocarpous gynoecium the carpels are free (more than one and separate from one another). Examples: lotus, rose. …

(a) Racemose and cymose inflorescence

The inflorescence is the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis. Depending on whether the tip of the main axis (the apical bud) goes on growing or terminates in a flower, inflorescences are of two basic types.

• Racemose inflorescence

  • The main axis continues to grow and does not end in a flower; its growth is unlimited (indefinite).
  • Flowers are borne laterally in an acropetal succession — the older (mature) flowers are towards the base and the younger flowers towards the apex.

• Cymose inflorescence

  • The main axis terminates in a flower, so its growth is limited (definite).
  • Flowers are borne in a basipetal order — the older flowers are at the top or centre and the younger flowers towards the base or sides.

(b) Apocarpous and syncarpous ovary

These terms describe the condition of the carpels that make up the gynoecium when more than one carpel is present. …

Method: The "Does the Tip Become a Flower?" and "Are the Carpels Touching?" Tests

Both parts of this question can be answered using a single diagnostic question each, rather than memorizing paired definitions.

Part (a), racemose vs cymose. Ask: "Does the growing tip of the main axis ever turn into a flower?"

• If no, the tip just keeps growing, so the inflorescence is racemose. Because the tip stays vegetative and active, new (younger) flowers keep forming there, while the older flowers, laid down earlier, sit lower down. This automatically gives the acropetal order (old below, young above) without memorizing it separately.
• If yes, the tip itself becomes a flower, so growth there stops, and the inflorescence is cymose. Since the terminal flower forms first and finishes off that axis, later flowers can only appear on side branches below it, giving the basipetal order (old at top/centre, young below) as a direct consequence.

Part (b), apocarpous vs syncarpous. Ask: "If I looked at the middle of this flower, are the individual carpels separate little units, or one fused mass?" …