Read the Flowering Axis and Spikelet
Inflorescence type depends on whether the axis continues growing, and grass flowers are organised into specialised spikelets.
Living-system questions are solved by matching a structure or organism to its function, process and stated condition.
Distinguish racemose and cymose
Racemose axes continue growing, with older flowers lower or toward the outside. Cymose axes terminate in a flower, so growth is determinate and younger flowers develop toward the base/outside.
Know Poaceae structures
Grass spikelets are subtended by glumes; individual florets include lemma and palea, and the reduced perianth is represented by lodicules. In coriander, the compound umbel is the edible inflorescence.
Recognise bracts and the edible inflorescence
A flower subtended by a bract is bracteate; without a bract it is ebracteate. Cauliflower’s compact compound corymb is the edible part.
OlympIQ exam lens
- ✓Cymose = determinate terminal flower.
- ✓Grass spikelet: glumes; floret: lemma and palea.
- ✓Coriander edible part: compound umbel.
- ✓Cauliflower: edible compound corymb.
- ✓Bract present = bracteate; absent = ebracteate.
A spikelet is not a simple spike: it contains small florets.
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