Ĭn'flo-rĕs'çençe, n.

noun

[Lat. inflorescens, p. pr. of inflorescere, to begin to blossom; from prefix in and florescere, to begin to blossom; Fr. inflorescence, Sp. inflorescencia, inflorecencia, It. inflorescenza. See FLORESCENCE.]

Sense 1. A flowering; the unfolding of blossoms.

Sense 2. (Bot.) (a.) The mode of flowering, or the general arrangement and disposition of the flowers. (b.) An axis on which all the buds are flower-buds.

Inflorescence affords an excellent characteristic mark in distinguishing the species of plants. Milne.

Centrifugal inflorescence (Bot.), definite inflorescence.—Centripetal inflorescence, indefinite inflorescence.

A botanical illustration showing various forms of inflorescence, with plant drawings numbered to match the key. — Various Forms of Inflorescence.