Corymb is an inflorescence type characterized by a flat-topped arrangement; which option best identifies it?

Corymb is an inflorescence type characterized by a flat-topped arrangement; which option best identifies it?

• A. Spike
• B. Corymb
• C. Raceme
• D. Umbel

Answer: (B)

Inflorescence shapes come from how the flowers are attached and how their stalk lengths position them. A flat-topped look arises when flowers on shorter pedicels reach the same height as those on longer pedicels, leveling the top of the cluster. That arrangement defines a corymb—the flowers are spread along the axis but differ in pedicel length so the top stays level. In contrast, a spike has flowers directly on the main axis with little or no pedicel, producing a long, unbranched form rather than a flat top. A raceme also has flowers on pedicels along an axis, but it tends to be more elongated rather than level at the top. An umbrella-like umbel has all pedicels stemming from a single point, giving a rounded, radiating shape rather than a flat-topped cluster. So the flat-topped configuration points to the corymb.

Inflorescence shapes come from how the flowers are attached and how their stalk lengths position them. A flat-topped look arises when flowers on shorter pedicels reach the same height as those on longer pedicels, leveling the top of the cluster. That arrangement defines a corymb—the flowers are spread along the axis but differ in pedicel length so the top stays level.

In contrast, a spike has flowers directly on the main axis with little or no pedicel, producing a long, unbranched form rather than a flat top. A raceme also has flowers on pedicels along an axis, but it tends to be more elongated rather than level at the top. An umbrella-like umbel has all pedicels stemming from a single point, giving a rounded, radiating shape rather than a flat-topped cluster. So the flat-topped configuration points to the corymb.