Inflorescence Part II

1.           Number of floral parts:

Occurrence of the same number of floral parts in the different floral whorls of a flower is called isomery and the flower is termed as isomerous flower. Sometimes, have different number of parts in each whorl. This condition is called heteromerous. The isomerous flowers may be of the following types:

(i)                 Dimerous : Floral parts in 2's or multiple of two.

(ii)              Trimerous : Floral parts in 3’s or multiple of three.

(iii)            Tetramerous: Floral parts in 4's or multiple of four.

(iv)             Pentamerous: Floral parts in 5's or multiple of five.

*Dicotyledonous    flowers    are    usually    di-,    tetra or    pentamerous    whereas monocotyledonous flowers are trimerous.

 

 

Differences amongst Hypogynous, Perigynous and Epigynous flowers
HYPOGYNOUS FLOWERS	PERIGYNOUS FLOWERS	EPIGYNOUS FLOWERS
1. The upper part of thalamus is slightly swollen and forms a cushion like disc.	1. The upper part of thalamus may be disc- shaped, cup-shaped or flask-shaped.	1. The upper part of thalamus is usually flask- shaped or tubular.
2. Calyx, corolla and androecium arise below the level of ovary.	2. Calyx, corolla and androecium arise from around the ovary and not beneath it.	2. Calyx, corolla and androecium are borne on the upper part of thalamus above the level of ovary.
3. Ovary is superior while all other parts are inferior.	3. Ovary is half-superior.	3. Ovary is inferior while all other parts are superior.
4. The gynoecium is placed at the top of the thalamus. The wall of ovary is not fused with the thalamus.	4. The ovary of gynoecium is placed at the bottom of cup or flask-shaped thalamus where ovary wall is not fused with the thalamus.	4. The ovary of gynoecium is completely inserted. The wall of ovary is fused with the thalamus.
5. Calyx, corolla and androecium remain separated from the gynoecium so that the ovary is visible from outside.	5. Calyx, corolla and androecium often develop from a common base. The ovary of gynoecium may or may not be visible from outside.	5. Calyx, corolla and androecium develop jointly from the neck of hollowed out thalamus so that the ovary is not visible from outside.

 

FLORET

A single flower of an inflorescence is called a floret.

 BRACTS AND BRACTEOLES

Bracts are modified leaves which bear flowers in their axils. A flower may be:

1.  Bracteate. Flowers having bracts.

2.  Ebracteate. Flowers without bracts.

The bracteate flowers have the following types of bracts :

(i)           Leafy bracts. Large leaf-like bracts, e.g., cotton, Adhatoda.

(ii)         Spathe. Large, often brightly coloured and cover spadix inflorescence, e.g., Banana, Maize, etc.

 (iii)       Involucre. A large number of bracts form compact one or more whorls around a flower or an inflorescence, e.g., Sunflower.

(iv)       Petaloid bracts. Bracts are large, showy and brightly coloured, e.g., Bougainvillea, Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia), etc.

(v)         Glumes. Dry and scaly bracts found in association with spikelet inflorescence, e.g., Grasses (wheat, barley. Oats etc.).

Bracteole : A secondary bract at the base of an individual flower.

Bracteolate : Flower having bracteoles.

Ebracteolate : Flowers without bracteoles.

Spathe : A single, large bract enclosing the flower cluster, commonly present in spadix.

Involucre : A whorl or whorls of bracts around an inflorescence. Each bract is called phyllary.

Epicalyx    :    A   set    of   bracteoles    forming    an additional whorl over the calyx.

 

CALYX

Calyx can be of various types based on colour, shape, cohesion, shape, aestivation and duration:

1.  Colour :

(i)           Sepaloid. Green in colour, like a sepal.

(ii)         Petaloid. Coloured and showy, like a petal.

 2.  Cohesion:

(i)           Polysepalous. Sepals are free and separate.

(ii)         Gamosepalous. Sepals are fused. Gamosepalous calyx may be toothed (free parts tooth like), fid (fusion upto half), partite (fusion less than half), or connate (fused only at their bases).

3.  Shape :

(i)           Pappus. A few hairy or feathery sepals, e.g., Sonchus, Eclipta.

(ii)         Spurred. One or more sepals long beak-like, e.g., Delphinium.

(iii)       Spinous. Sepals modified into spines, e.g., Trapa.

(iv)       Companulate. Bell-shaped, e.g., Petunia.

(v)         Cupulate. Cup-shaped, e.g., Gossypium (cotton).

(vi)       Urceolate. Urn-shaped, e.g., Silene.

(vii)     Infundibuliform. Funnel-shaped, e.g., Atropa.

(viii)   Hooded. One or more sepal become hood-like, e.g., Aconitum.

(ix)       Bilabiate. Differentiated into an upper and a lower lip, e.g., Ocimum.

(x)         Tubular. Tube-like, e.g., Verbena.

 4.  Aestivation

Aestivation : is the mode or arrangement or sepals in the bud. It is of various types:

Valvate : Sepals meeting by their edges and not overlapping or turning.

Valvate aestivation may sometimes be:

1.      Induplicate : Margins projecting inward.

2.      Reduplicate : Margins projecting outward.

3.      Involute : Margins rolled inward.

Twisted (contorted) : Margins of sepals are overlapping regularly i.e., one margin of a sepal overlaps the next and the other margin is overlapped by a preceeding sepal. Twisting  may either  be clockwise or anticlockwise.

Imbricate:  The sepals overlap each other in such a way that one is internal,one   is external and the others are partly internal and partly external.

Quincuncial : Out of five sepals two are interior, two are exterior and the fifth one has one margin exterior and the other interior.

 5.  Duration of calyx :

(i)           Persistent. Sepals remain attached till the maturation of fruit and do not fall off, e.g., Solanum.

(ii)         Caducous. Sepals fall off early, e.g., Papaver.

(iii)       Deciduous. Sepals fall off after fertilization, e.g., Brassica.

 COROLLA

 Corolla is of various types based on cohesion of petals, shape and aestivation:

1. Cohesion :

(i)           Polypetalous. Petals are free and separate.

(ii)         Gamopetalous. Petals are fused in whorl or in parts.

2. Shape :

(i)           Cruciform. The four free petals are arranged in cross-shaped. Each petal has a claw and a limb, e.g., Mustard (Plants belonging to Brassicaceae).

(ii)         Caryophyllaceous. Five free petals with long claws and with limbs placed at right angles to the claws, e.g., plants belonging to family Caryophyllaceae (Dianthus).

       (iii) Rosaceous. Five or more free petals spreading regularly outwards and not distinguishable into limb and claws, e.g., plants of family Rosaceae (Rosa).

(iv)       Papilionaceous. Five free petals are unequal in size (Zygomorphic) and arranged in butterfly like manner - one large posterior bilobed petal called standard (or vexillum) which over-laps two small lateral petals called wings (or alae). The wings further overlap the two innermost smallest and fused petals forming a boat, called Keel (or carina). Examples - plants of family Papilionaceae or Fabaceae (Pea, chickpea, pigeonpea etc.).

(v)         Infundibuliform. Gamopetalous and funnel-shaped, e.g., Petunia.

(vi)       Campanulate. Gamopetalous and bell-shaped, e.g., Campanula.

(vii)     Tubular. Gamopetalous and tubular or cylindrical, e.g., disc florets of Sun flower.

(viii)   Hypocrateriform. Gamopetalous with long tube expanding abruptly into flat limbs, e.g., Clerodendron.

(ix)       Rotate. Gamopetalous with a flat and circular limb at right angles to the short tube (Wheel-shaped), e.g., Solanum nigrum.

(x)         Bilabiate. Gamopetalous, zygomorphic and two lipped. Bilabiate corolla with two lips closed to one another is called personate, e.g., Antirrhinum. Bilabiate corolla with two lips wide open is called ringent, e.g., Salvia.

(xi)       Ligulate. Gamopetalous, zygomorphic with a short narrow tube below and flattened above like a strap, e.g., ray floret of sun flower.

 3.Aestivation:

 The mode of arrangement of petals (also sepals) in relation to one another in a flower bud is known as aestivation. It is of the following types -

(i)           Open. Petals of a whorl (or sepals of a whorl) are sufficiently apart from each other.

 

(ii)                     Valvate. Petals of a whorl (or sepals of a whorl) meet by their edges but do not overlap. Valvate aestivation may be sometimes – (a) In-duplicate (Margins projected inwards), (b) Reduplicate (Margins projected outwards) or (c) Involute (Margins rolled inwards).

 (iii)       Twisted (or Contorted). Margins of petals are overlapping regularly i.e., one margin of a petal overlaps the next and the other margin is overlapped by a preceding petal. Twisting may either be clockwise or anticlockwise.

(iv)       Imbricate. Margins of petals are overlapping irregularly. Out of five petals, one is completely internal, one is completely external and in each of the remaining three petals one margin is internal and the other is external.

        (1)   Ascending Imbricate. It is a type of imbricate aestivation in which the posterior petal is                 internal, e.g., plants of family Cassiaceae (Bauhinia, Cassia).

        (2)   Descending Imbricate or Vexillary. It is a type of imbricate aestivation in which the anterior         petal is internal. The posterior petal is largest and it almost covers the two lateral petals and the             later     in their turn nearly overlap the two anterior and smallest petals, e.g., plants of family                 Papilionaceae         or Fabaceae (Pea).

(v)         Quincuncial. It is a modification of imbricate aestivation in which two petals are internal, two are external and the fifth one has one margin external and the other margin internal.

 PERIANTH

 In some plants, there is no distinction between sepals and petals. Such floral whorls are called perianth and the individual parts of the whorls are called tepals. Their description is same as calyx or corolla. The terms are used as - phyllous or - tepalous. e.g., polyphyllous or polytepalous (free tepals) , gamophyllous or gamotepalous (fused tepals), etc.

 ANDROECIUM

 Collection or group of stamens and staminodes (a sterile stamen) is called androecium. The technical terms concerning androecium are as follows-

1.  Cohesion of Stamens :

(i)  Monadelphous. All the stamens of a flower are united in one bundle by fusion of their filaments only. The anthers are free, e.g., Hibiscus, Althaea, Abutilon, etc.

(ii) Diadelphous. All the stamens of a flower are united in two bundles by fusion of their filaments only. The anthers are free, e.g., Pea (Pisum sativum). They may be 9 fused + 1 free as in case of pulses like peas, gram, arhar etc. and 8 fuses +  2 free as in case of Groundnut.

(iii)       Polyadelphous. Filaments of all the stamens unite to form more than two groups. The anthers are free, e.g., Citrus.

(iv)       Syngenesious. Anthers of all the stamens of the flower unite to form a cylinder around the style. The filaments are free, e.g., plants of Compositae or Asteraceae (Sonchus, Sun flower, etc.).

 (v)         Synandrous. Anthers as well as the filaments are fused throughout their whole length, e.g., plants of family Cucurbitaceae (Cucurbita, Lagenaria, Luffa, etc.).

 

(vi)       Polyandrous. Stamens are indefinite and free, e.g., Ranunculus.

Difference amongst Monadelphous, Syngenesious and Synandrous Stamens
MONADELPHOUS STAMENS	SYNGENESIOUS STAMENS	SYNANDROUS STAMENS
1. All the stamens of a flower are fused in one bundle by their filaments only.	1.    Anthers    of    all    the stamens are fused.	1. Anthers as well as filaments of all the stamens are fused.
2. Staminal tube is formed around the base of the pistil which may extend to cover the style.	2. Fused anthers form a tube around the style	2. Fused anthers as well as filaments form a compact mass.
3. Anthers and upper part of the filaments are free.	3. Filaments of all the stamens are free.	3. No part of stamens is free.

2.  Adhesion of stamens :

(i)   Epipetalous. Stamens adhere to the petals by their filaments and hence appearing to arise from them, e.g., Solanum, Ocimum, etc.

(ii)   Epitepalous (Epiphyllous). Stamens adhere to the tepals by their filaments and hence appearing to arise from them, e.g., Asphodelus.

(iii)   Gynandrous. Stamens adhere to the carpels either throughout their length or by their anthers only, e.g., Calotropis.

3.  Insertion of stamens:

(i)                        Haplostemonous. Stamens in one whorl, usually as many as the number of sepals or petals.

(ii)                     Antesepalous. Opposite to sepals.

(iii)                  Antepetalous. Opposite to petals.

(iv)                 Diplostemonous. Stamens are arranged in two alternating whorls. The members of outer whorl alternate with the petals, e.g., Cassia.

(v)                     Obdiplostemonous. Stamens are arranged in two alternating whorls. The members of outer whorl opposite the petals, e.g., Pink.

(vi)                 Polystemonous. Statements are arranged in more than two whorls.

4.  Size of stamens :

(i)           Didynamous. Out of four stamens in a flower, two long and two are short, e.g., Ocimum.

(ii)         Tetradynamous. Out of six stamens in a flower, two outer are short and four inner are long, e.g., plants of the family Brassicaceae (Mustard).

 Position of stamens :

(i)           Inserted. Stamens shorter than corolla tube.

(ii)         Exserted. Stamens longer than the corolla tube, protruding outwards.

6.  Number of anther-lobes thecae :

(i)           Dithecous. Anthers have two lobes with four microsporangia or pollen sacs.

(ii)         Monothecous. Anthers have only one lobe with two microsporangia or pollen sacs.

 7.  Fixation of anthers :

(i)                        Basifixed (Innate) : Filament attached to the base of the anther, e.g., Brassica.

(ii)                    Adnate. Filament is continued from the base to the apex of anther, e.g., Verbena.

(iii)                 Dorsifixed. Filament is attached to the dorsal (back) side of the anther, e.g., Citrus.

(iv)                Versatile. Anther is attached lightly at its back to the slender tip of the filament so that it can swing freely, e.g., Bottle brush.

 8.               Dehiscence        of anthers :

(i)           Longitudinal. Slits appear lengthwise in the anther  lobes. Longitudinal dehiscence may be of 3 types –

(a)Introrse: Dehiscence occurs towards the inner side (centre) of the flower ; e.g.,  Leguminosae,

(b)Extrorse: Dehiscence occurs on the outward side of the flower ; e.g., Papaveraceae, and

(c)Latrorse: Dehiscence occurs laterally; e.g., Croton sparsiflorus:

(ii)         Transverse. Anther lobes dehisce by breadthwise slits formed roughly in the middle, e.g., Lady’s finger (Abelmoschus esculentus).

(iii)      Valvular. Anther walls break and lifted at places like valves, e.g., Barberry.

(iv)       Porous. Anther lobes dehisce by apical or basal pores, e.g., Cassia, Tomato, etc.

(v)         
 Irregular. Anther walls break irregularly to disperse pollen grains, e.g., Najas.

 

 GYNOECIUM

Gynoecium is the collective term for the innermost or central whorl of Floral appendages                      (i.e., carpel/carpels). A unit of gynoecium is called pistil. Following technical  terms are related with gynoecium -

 1.  Number of carpels:

(i)   Monocarpellary. Gynoecium comprises of a single carpel; e.g., Leguminosae.

(ii)   Bicarpellary. Comprised of two carpels ; e.g., Acanthaceae.

(iii)   Tricarpellary. Comprised of three carpels ; e.g., Liliaceae.

(iv)   Tetracarpellary. Comprised of four carpels ; e.g., Datura.

(v)   Pentacarpellary. Comprised of five carpels ; e.g., Melia.

(vi)   Multicarpellary. Comprised of many carpels, e.g., Papaver.

 2.  Cohesion of carpels :

(i)   Apocarpous. Gynoecium comprised of two or more carpels which are free ;

e.g., Ranunculus.

(ii)   Syncarpous. Gynoecium comprised of two or more carpels which are fused;

e.g., Hibiscus.

 

  

3. Position of the ovary

(i)   Superior. Ovary is borne above the point of attachment of perianth and stamens on the thalamus; e.g., Citrus.

(ii)   Semi-inferior.            The condition of ovary is intermediate between superior and inferior; e.g., Rose.

(iii)  Inferior. Ovary is borne below the point of attachment of perianth and stamens. The thalamus completely covers the ovary and fuses with it; e.g., Cucurbita.

 

 

 

 

4.  Number of locules:

(i)                 Unilocular. Ovary with one chamber.

(ii)               Bilocular. Ovary with two chambers.

(iii)             Trilocular. Ovary with three chambers.

(iv)             Tetralocular. Ovary with four chambers.

(v)               Pentalocular. Ovary with five chambers.

(vi)             Multilocmar. Ovary with many chambers.

 

5.  Placentation type :

(i)           Marginal. Occurs in a monocarpellary, unilocular ovary. The placenta develops and ovules are borne along the junction of the two margins of the carpel; e.g., Pea.

(ii)         Axile. Occurs in a bi-or multicarpellary and multilocular ovary. The margins of carpels fold inwards  fusing together in the centre of ovary where the placentae are formed. The ovules are borne at or near the centre on the placenta, in each locule ; e.g., Hibiscus.

(iii)       Parietal. Occurs in a bi-or multicarpellary but unilocular ovary. The carpels are fussed only by their margins. The placentae, bearing the ovules, develop by the swelling up of fusing adjacent margins of the carpels. The placentae then appear as internal ridges on the ovary wall ; e.g., Argemone. Ligustieum

(iv)  Free-central. Occurs in a multicarpellary but unilocular ovary. They are fused only by their margins. The placenta develops in the centre of ovary as an upgrowth from ovary base which bears ovules ; e.g., Primulaceae. The free- central placentae may also be formed by breaking down of the septa from the initial axile placentation, as in Caryophyllaceae.

(v)         Basal. Occurs in a bi- or multicarpellary but unilocular ovary. The ovules are few or reduced to one and borne at the base of the ovary ; e.g., Compositae (Asteraceae).

(vi)       Superficial. Occurs in multicarpellary, multilocular ovary. The ovules are borne on placentae which develop all around the inner surface of the partition wall ; e.g., Nymphaea.

6.  Style :

(i)           Terminal. Style lying in the same straight line with the ovary ; e.g., Hibiscus.

(ii)         Lateral. Style arising from the side of the ovary ; e.g., Potentilla.

(iii)       Gynobasic. Style arising from the thalamus, e.g., Ocimum, Salvia.

(iv)       Stylopodium. A disc-like swelling at the base of the style ; e.g., Coriandrum.

 

7.  Stigma :

Capitate. Cap-like globose head

Discoid : Disc-shaped

Plumose : Feather-like

Dum-bell shaped : Like a dumbell

Bifid Forked

Liner : Long and narrow

Sticky : Provided with sticky liquid.

 

FRUIT

True fruit : Product of a single ripened ovary or a single flower enclosing seeds.

False fruit (pseudocarp) : Besides ovary, it also contains parts of other organs viz., receptacle, pedicel, sepals, etc.

Difference amongst Marginal, Parietal and Axile Placentations
Marginal Placentation	Parietal Placentation	Axile Placentation
1. Usually occurs in monocarpellary unilocular ovary.	1. Occurs in a bi-or multicarpellary but uniloc-ular ovary (sometimes two or more   locular due to false septa)	1. Occurs in a bi- or multicarpellary and bi- or multilocular ovary.
2. It consists of a single longitudinal placenta or file of ovules attached to the wall of the ovary.	2. It consists of two or more longitudinal placenta or files of ovules attached to the wall of the ovary.	2. It consists of two or more files of ovules attached to a central placenta or axile column.
3. Placenta develops along the junction of the two margins of the carpel.	3. The placentae develop by the swelling up of fusing adjacent margins of the carpels.	3. The margins of carpels fold inwards fusing together in the centre of ovary where   the placentae are formed.

 

1.  Dehiscent dry fruits.

(i)           Legume : A dehiscent dry fruit produced from a monocarpellary, superior ovary which dehisces from both the sutures into two valves ; e.g., Pea.

(ii)         Follicle : A dehiscent dry fruit produced from a monocarpellary, superior ovary which dehisces from one suture only ; e.g.. Delphinium, Calotropis.

(iii)       Siliqua : A dehiscent dry fruit produced from a bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior ovary which is unilocular but appears bilocular due to false septum. Fruits dehisce along both the sutures from base to apex and a large number of seeds remain attached to the replum (septa) ; e.g., Brassica.

iv)     Capsule: A dehiscent dry fruit produced from syncarpous, superior or inferior ovary which dehisces along two or more lines of suture in various ways (i.e., longitudinal, transverse, porous and by teeth) ; e.g., Datura, Gossypium.

 

2.  Schizocarpic dry fruits.

(i)   Lomentum: Fruit is similar to a legume but constricted between the seeds. Dehiscing sutures are transverse. The fruit splits into one seeded indehiscent compartments at maturity; e.g., Tamarindus, Cassia fistula.

(ii)   Cremocarp : Fruit is produced from a bicarpellary, syncarpous, bilocular and inferior ovary. It is two-seeded fruit which splits longitudinally into two indehiscent mericarps which remain attached to a thread like carpophore ; e.g., Coriandrum.

(iii)   Regma : The fruit is produced from a bi-or multicarpellary, syncarpous and superior ovary. It breaks up into as many segments or cocci as there are carpels ; e.g., Ricinus, Geranium.

(iv) Carcerule : The fruit is produced from a bicarpellary, syncarpous, tetralocular and superior ovary. Each locule contains one seed. The fruit breaks up into four indehiscent parts (nutlets) ; e.g., Ocimum.

3.  Indehiscent dry fruits.

(i)      Achene : A small, indehiscent, one seeded fruit developing from a monocarpellary ovary and in which the pericarp is hard, leathery and remains free from seed coat; e.g., Mirabilis, Clematis, sunflower etc.

(ii) Caryopsis : A small, indehiscent, one seeded fruit developing from a monocarpellary ovary and in which   the pericarp is fused with the seed coat. The seed completely fills the chamber ; e.g., Wheat.

(iii) Cypsela : The fruit is produced from bicarpellary, syncarpous and inferior ovary with calyx persistent and forming the 'pappus’. It contains only one seed. The pericarp and seed coat remain free ; e.g., Tridax, Sonchus.

(iv) Nut : A large, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit that develops from a bi- or multicarpellary ovary. The fruit wall becomes hard, stony or woody at maturity; e.g., Litchi, Chestnut, Cashewnut.

(v) Samara : A dry, indehiscent, one-seeded winged fruit developing from bicarpellary, syncarpous ovary : The wing is modified outgrowth of pericarp ; e.g., Holoptelea integrifolia (Chilbil).

 

4.  Fleshy fruits.

(i)   Berry: A fleshy, usually many-seeded fruit with massive, pulpy and juicy pericarp produced from a syncarpous ovary. The epicarp of berries generally becomes conspicuously coloured when ripe ; e.g., Tomato, Banana.

(ii)   Hesperidium : It is a berry with a firm, hard and leathery pericarp, as in Citrus. The fruit develops from polycarpellary, syncarpous and superior ovary. Outer glandular skin is epicarp, the white fluffy stuff is mesocarp and inner membrane surrounding the locules is endocarp. The juice is secreted by large multicellular hairs lying towards inner side of carpels ; e.g., Lemon, Orange.

(iii)  Pepo: A large fleshy fruit developing from a tricarpellary, syncarpous, unilocular and inferior ovary with parietal placentation. The fruit is many seeded with pulpy interior ; e.g., Cucumber, Melon.

(iv)  Drupe: A fleshy, one seeded, indehiscent fruit developing from mono or multicarpellary syncarpous ovary. The pericarp is differentiated into outer, thin epicarp (forming skin), middle fleshy and fibrous mesocarp and inner hard and stony endocarp which encloses and protects the seed; e.g., Mango, Coconut, Walnut.

(v)   Balausta : A fleshy fruit with many chambers and many seeds like the berry. Pericarp forms a firm rind and two rows of carpels are placed one above the other bearing seeds irregularly: Fruit is crowned with the lobes of an adnate calyx- Edible part is testa; e.g., Pome-granate.

(vi)  Amphisarca: A fleshy, many-seedded fruit with a woody pericarp developing from a syncarpous and superior ovary. The edible portion is the placenta and inner pulpy pericarp ; Aegle marmelos.

(vii)  Pome: A fleshy false fruit enclosed within the fleshy thalamus. The fruit develops from bi-or multicarpellary, syncarpous, inferior ovary, e.g., Apple.

 5.  Aggregate fruits.

(i) Etaerio of follicles : An aggregate of follicles ; e.g., Consolida, Michelia champaca.

(ii) Etaerio of achenes : An aggregate of achenes ; e.g., strawberry in which it occurs scattered over the enlarged fleshy thalamus.

(iii)       Etaerio of drupes : An aggregate of drupes; e.g., Raspberry.

(iv)       Etaerio of berries : Bunch of berries crowded together on a thick thalamus forming a single fruit; e.g., Anona squamosa.

 6.  Multiple fruits.

(i)  Sorosis : The fruit is produced from the entire inflorescence which is spike or spadix in which the flowers fuse by their succulent perianth. The inflorescence axis becomes fleshy by hypertrophy forming a compact mass ; e.g., Jack fruit, Pineapple, Mulberry.

(ii)         Syconus : The fruit produced from the enitre hypanthodium inflorescence ; e.g., Ficus.