Illustration of inflorescence
- 1 raceme
- 2 corymb
- 3 umbel
- 4 compound umbel
- 5 capitulum
- 6 spike
- 7 compound spike
- 8 panicle
- 9 cyme
inflorescence
noun
in·flo·res·cence
ˌin-flə-ˈre-sᵊn(t)s 
1
a
: the mode of development and arrangement of flowers on an axis
b
: a floral axis with its appendages
also
: a flower cluster
2
: the budding and unfolding of blossoms : flowering
Examples of inflorescence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Like modern growers, Sumerian orchardists, archaeologist Marcin Paszke contends, gathered pollen from the emerging inflorescences of male date palms in the spring and then climbed the female trees to fertilize the flowers by hand.
—
Jacob Jones, JSTOR Daily, 13 Aug. 2025
While many species of hydrangeas have white flowers, bigleaf hydrangeas are prized for their beautiful inflorescences that act as a natural pH indicator of the soil the plants grow in.
—Dr. Nick Goltz, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025
The floral inflorescences look interesting even after the color fades.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025
There is a special kind of pride that comes with seeing a homegrown, burgeoning shrub with conical, foot-long inflorescences, each of which is composed of more than a hundred of tiny florets that are blanketed with nectar-seeking bees.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 21 June 2025
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Jacob Jones, JSTOR Daily, 13 Aug. 2025
While many species of hydrangeas have white flowers, bigleaf hydrangeas are prized for their beautiful inflorescences that act as a natural pH indicator of the soil the plants grow in.
—Dr. Nick Goltz, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025
The floral inflorescences look interesting even after the color fades.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025
There is a special kind of pride that comes with seeing a homegrown, burgeoning shrub with conical, foot-long inflorescences, each of which is composed of more than a hundred of tiny florets that are blanketed with nectar-seeking bees.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflorescence
Cite this Entry
“Inflorescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflorescence. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inflorescence
noun
in·flo·res·cence
ˌin-flə-ˈres-ᵊn(t)s
1
a
: the pattern of development and arrangement of flowers on a stalk
b
: a flowering stalk with all its parts
also
: a flower cluster or sometimes a flower that grows alone
2
: the forming and unfolding of blossoms
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