Question

Flowers showing basipetal succession are observed in
(a) Caesalpinia and Clerodendrum
(b) Jasmine and gulmohar
(c) Gulmohar and Caesalpinia
(d) Clerodendrum and jasmine

Answer 1

Hint: Flowers that show acropetal succession are arranged oppositely to how basipetal flowers are arranged. Acropetal succession is also known as racemose inflorescence whereas basipetal succession is also known as cymose inflorescence.

Complete answer:
Basipetal succession is a type of inflorescence ( arrangement of flowers on the floral axis) in which the main axis of the plant terminates in a flower and the new flowers and buds arise laterally from the bottom parts of the plant. In a way, we can say that old flowers are arranged on top and new flowers are arranged on the bottom. This type of arrangement is also known as cymose inflorescence. It is seen in plants like Clerodendrum and Jasmine. Whereas in plants like Caesalpinia and Gulmohar, acropetal or racemose succession is seen.

Additional Information:
-Acropetal succession is the arrangement of flowers in which the main axis of the plant keeps growing continuously and branches off new flowers laterally.
-It is also known as racemose inflorescence and the new flowers are at the top and the old flowers at the bottom.
-The racemose arrangement of flowers is also known as centripetal arrangement because as the new flowers keep growing on the plant, the new flowers appear to be growing inwards towards the central axis of the plant i.e. centripetally.
-The cymose arrangement of flowers is also known as centrifugal arrangement because as the new flowers keep growing on the plant, the new flowers appear to be growing outwards away from the central axis of the plant i.e. centrifugally.

So, the correct option is option (a), ‘Clerodendrum and jasmine’.

Note: -Caesalpinia belongs to a genus of flowering plants in Fabaceae also known as the legume family.
-Clerodendrum is also known as glory bower, bag flower, or bleeding-heart that belongs to a genus of flowering plants in the Verbenaceae family.
-Jasmines are a group of flowers cultivated for their fragrance and belong to a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family.
-Gulmohar is an ornamental tree belonging to the Fabaceae family.