Bract inflorescence

Inflorescence not subtended by spathaceous bracts and not with spathaceous bracts, or if with spathaceous bracts then the flowers conspicuous. 

Inflorescence subtended by a spathaceous bract or with spathaceous bracts flowers small, inconspicuous ovary superior, usually syncarpous. 

Ament (Catkin) A racemose inflorescence consisting of a close, bracted spike, usually deciduous when mature, bearing many unisexual apetalous flowers. 

Each branch terminates in an inflorescence which is a dense capitulum of florets (individual tubular corollas), commonly called a flower. Each floret flower protrudes from a conical head surrounded by layers of bracts. The leaves, which develop along the stalk and branches, and the outer layers of bracts usually are spiny, although the types of safflower grown for the production of dye or food coloring are spineless, or nearly so. The seeds of the safflower plant develop within the head in a concentric pattern and are oblate with a flattened top, usually white, and about the size of a barley kernel (Figure 1) (20). 

Bract leaves (a) primary at base of inflorescence b) bracteo-lar leaves at a base of individual flowers. 

Bract leaves are modified leaves appearing on inflorescence axes. 

The Spathe is a large bract enveloping the inflorescence and often colored, as in the Calla, or membranous, as in the Daffodil. 

Bract.—A modified leaf, frequently scale-like, appearing on inflorescence axes. Brac teole (bracteolar leaf).—A modified leaf found on pedicels. 

Pal ate.—A convex projection on the base of the lower lip of a personate corolla. Pa lea Pal et).—An inner bract of a Grass inflorescence which with the lemma incloses the flower. 

Spathe. —A large bract that encloses or subtends an inflorescence. 

N.B, In a sympodial structure the axes may have a monopodial brancning for some time up to several years, but eventually the terminal bud will flower and die. Such a mixture of main monopodial and ultimate sympodial branching in an inflorescence is the thyrse (see 45.3.1). To decide what type is involved, the relative position of axes, leaves or bracts, and inflorescence or flowers (check for scarsl) must be observed very carefully for instance the presence of a leaf on a branch opposite to the inflorescence clearly indicates the sympodial type the apparently lateral inflorescence is in fact the terminal bud, while the apparent straight continuation of the stem is in fact the outgrowth of the axillary bud of the leaf. 

The threadlike (filiform) stipules at the base of the petioles of the upper leaves are a deeper yellow-orange than normal. The bracts (specialized leaves surrounding the flowers) are better developed, longer and more numerous than usual, forming little tufts. The flowering tops are less numerous, more elongate or less compact than typical with 0 to 8 seeds per inflorescence compared with the normal of 40 to 60. The tops arc not sticky and the minty odor is absent even when the plant is crushed between the fingers. 

The genus Narcissus, belonging to the tribe Narcisseae, consists of small to medium-sized herbs with linear leaves and a solid scape bearing an inflorescence of one to several (rarely numerous) flowers. Its spathal bracts are basally fused into a tube. The flowers are actinomorphic and have six equal tepals. Inside this, a corona is... 

Description Herbaceous annual with a taproot. Stems 20-100 cm tall, pubescent. Leaves ovate-rhomboid, apex obtuse. Inflorescence a dense panicle bracts lanceolate. Flowers unisexual. Pistillate flowers with 5 tepals and 3 stigmas. Staminate flowers at top of inflorescence tepals 5, stamens 3-5. Seeds shiny black, lenticular, contained in circumscissile utricles. 

Description Herbaceous annual or biennial plant with a thin vertical root. Stems single or few, 30-90 cm tall. Basal leaves petiolate, bi- or tripinnatisect, segments linear-lanceolate, apex acute middle cauline leaves smaller, sessile, segments narrow, linear upper cauline leaves deeply tri-lobed or entire. Inflorescences small capitula with 10-12 flowers, in a wide, nodding panicle involucral bracts brownish or pink-violet. Disc flowers yellow ray flowers absent. Fruits achenes, ca 0.6 mm long, ovate, flat with narrow ribs. 

Description Herbaceous annual with a taproot. Stems 20-110 cm taU. Leaves opposite, lower and middle tripartite upper leaves unlobed, lanceolate. Inflorescences capitula, single or in groups of 2-3 involuoal bracts ovate or lanceolate-ovate, internal bracts shorter. Flowers yellow, usually only disc type. Fruits dark brown achenes, flattened with 4 edges, often with retrorsely barbed awns. 

Description Herbaceous biennial. Stems 60-200 cm with red-brownish spots on lower portion. Basal leaves triangular in outline, petiolate, 30-60 cm long, tripinnatisect primary and secondary segments petiolulate, tertiary segments sessile, oblong-ovate, pinnatifld. Inflorescence a compound umbel with 10-20 rays bracts 4, lanceolate, acute bracteoles 3-7, connate at the base. Petals 5, obcordate, white. Fruit a 2-seeded schizocarp, 3-3.5 mm long, nearly orbicular to ovate, with wavy ribs. 

Description Herbaceous perennial. Stems 30-70 cm tall, tomentose leaves aggregated on the lower half of stem. Leaves petiolate, the blade circular to kidney-shaped in outUne, 5-13 cm long, 7-20 cm wide, 3-lobed with sinuses half-way into leaf blade middle lobe elongate-obovate, with 3-5 lobules lateral lobes of leaf with 2-3 lobules all lobes with unequal triangular-lanceolate teeth. Inflorescence a multi-flowered racane bracts broadly lanceolate. Flowers with 5 dark-violet tepals, upper tepal with a spur at the base. Fruit a foUicetum with 3 follicles. 

Description Herbaceous biennial or perennial. Stems 60-140 cm tall, branching above. Basal leaves lanceolate, up to 40 cm long, margins entire lower leaves sessile, 15-30 cm long, 4-5 cm wide, pinnatifid towards leaf base uppermost leaves smaller, becoming lanceolate or linear, sometimes pinnatisect. Inflorescences nearly spherical heads involucral bracts awn-like, stiff, prickly. Corolla tubular, 4-lobed, bright blue, pubescent on the outside, each with a stiff green bract. Fruits 4-sided achenes. 

Other distinguishing features Inflorescence heads 2.5-A cm long, with involucral bracts only slightly shorter. 

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