ABSTRACT
In the racemose inflorescences, the apical reproductive meristem produces flowers typically in an acropetal direction. The classical type of racemose inflorescence is the "raceme", which consists of a unbranched, elongated axis with pedicellate lateral flowers subtended or not by bracts. The "corymb" is characteristically a racemose inflorescence in which the length of the various flower pedicels decreases acropetally in such a way that the flowers are finally all at about the same level. In many racemose inflorescences the sequence of flower development follows the acropetal order of flower initiation with flowers opening first at the base. Histological studies have shown that flowers and inflorescence branches are invariably initiated by deep periclinal divisions and may thus be viewed as homologous to axillary buds. Phyllotactic changes commonly occur just before or at the time of inflorescence or flower initiation in several species.
