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Inflorescence vs. Capitulescence
| These two terms are
similar. They both refer to the parts of a plant where the flowers
are located, or to the arrangement of flowers on a plant.
"Capitulescence" is a term that was created by botanists to
describe the complexity found in some species, such as asters and
goldenrods.
Many asters and goldenrods typically have numerous flower heads (capitula). The capitula are located on branches. Each branch can be considered an "inflorescence". The shape of all the inflorescence branches considered together, however, can be described differently. In the case of asters and goldenrods, the arrangement of inflorescence branches is usually either a panicle or a corymb. The capitulescence can thus be considered to be the "inflorescence of inflorescences". In the example below, each of the flowering branches (inflorescence branches) is in the form of a "raceme", yet the overall flowering structure - all the branches taken together - is in the form of a "panicle". In other words, the capitulescence is in the form of a panicle. Please refer to the separate discussion of the differences between panicles and corymbs. Shown below is Symphyotrichum lanceolatum. |
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