What is the type of inflorescence that lacks a pedicel on its flowers, as exemplified by gladiolus?

What is the type of inflorescence that lacks a pedicel on its flowers, as exemplified by gladiolus?

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

Answer: (A)

Inflorescence types hinge on whether each flower has a pedicel. In a spike, the florets are essentially sessile on the main axis, with little to no individual stalks. Gladiolus shows an unbranched, tall axis with flowers attached directly along it, giving the appearance of no pedicels. That direct attachment is what defines a spike. By contrast, a raceme has each flower on its own pedicel along the axis; a corymb brings the flowers to roughly the same level with varying pedicel lengths; and a panicle is a branched inflorescence with pedicels on the branches. So the type exemplified by gladiolus is a spike.

Inflorescence types hinge on whether each flower has a pedicel. In a spike, the florets are essentially sessile on the main axis, with little to no individual stalks. Gladiolus shows an unbranched, tall axis with flowers attached directly along it, giving the appearance of no pedicels. That direct attachment is what defines a spike. By contrast, a raceme has each flower on its own pedicel along the axis; a corymb brings the flowers to roughly the same level with varying pedicel lengths; and a panicle is a branched inflorescence with pedicels on the branches. So the type exemplified by gladiolus is a spike.