Which term describes an inflorescence where the terminal flower opens first?

Which term describes an inflorescence where the terminal flower opens first?

• A. Cymose
• B. Racemose
• C. Umbellate
• D. Corymbose

Answer: (A)

Understanding how inflorescences bloom in a determinate pattern helps here. In cymose inflorescences, the growth is determinate—the tip ends with a flower. That terminal flower opens first, and then flowers appear on shorter side branches beneath it, after the initial bloom. This contrasts with racemose inflorescences, where the main axis keeps growing and flowers open from the base upward along the axis, not with a terminal-first sequence. Umbellate and Corymbose describe shapes or alignment of flowers rather than the order of opening, so they don’t specify a terminal-first blooming pattern. Therefore, the term that best fits a terminal flower opening first is cymose.

Understanding how inflorescences bloom in a determinate pattern helps here. In cymose inflorescences, the growth is determinate—the tip ends with a flower. That terminal flower opens first, and then flowers appear on shorter side branches beneath it, after the initial bloom. This contrasts with racemose inflorescences, where the main axis keeps growing and flowers open from the base upward along the axis, not with a terminal-first sequence. Umbellate and Corymbose describe shapes or alignment of flowers rather than the order of opening, so they don’t specify a terminal-first blooming pattern. Therefore, the term that best fits a terminal flower opening first is cymose.