What Is the Difference Between an Inflorescence and a Flower? Understanding the Differences at a Glance

An inflorescence refers to the way flowers are arranged on the floral axis and the order in which they open. A flower generally refers to an ornamental plant, meaning a herbaceous plant with ornamental value; it is composed of the corolla, calyx, receptacle and stamens/pistil, comes in a wide variety of colors, and some are very showy and fragrant.

I. Classification of Inflorescences

1. By position: According to the position of the flowers on the stem, inflorescences can be divided into terminal inflorescences, axillary inflorescences and intercalary inflorescences.

A terminal inflorescence is at the top of the branching system; an axillary inflorescence is at the tip of a short axillary branch, or is an inflorescence formed by the degeneration of a leaf-like axillary branch; an intercalary inflorescence consists of some flowers borne terminally.

2. By flowering order: According to the order in which flowers open on the stem, they are divided into two major categories: indeterminate inflorescences and determinate inflorescences.

An indeterminate inflorescence can, as the inflorescence axis grows, continuously produce flower buds centrifugally, or repeatedly produce lateral branches, with a flower differentiating at the tip of each lateral branch.

A determinate inflorescence is generally called a cyme; on its inflorescence axis, a flower bud first forms at the apex and opens earliest, and the axis no longer continues to grow, after which flowers form successively at the tips of the lateral branches.

II. Classification of Flowers

1. Open-ground flowers

Annual flowers: Plants that complete their life cycle within a single growing season. That is, from sowing to flowering, setting seed and dying, all is completed within one growing season.

Biennial flowers: Flowers that complete their life cycle within two growing seasons.

Perennial flowers: Those whose individual lifespan exceeds two years and which can flower and set seed many times.

2. Greenhouse flowers

Refers to flowers native to tropical, subtropical and warm southern regions. When cultivated in cold northern regions, they must be grown in a greenhouse, or need greenhouse protection to overwinter in winter.

3. Form

According to form, they are divided into herbaceous flowers and woody flowers.

4. Use

According to use, they are divided into cut flowers, potted flowers and open-ground types.

Flowers can be seen everywhere in our daily lives; whether potted plants, open-ground plantings or bouquets given on holidays, they are all a type of flower.