Question

Scorpioid cyme occurs in
A) Hamelia
B) Nerium
C) Heliotropium
D) Clerodendron

Answer 1

Hint:Cyme is an inflorescence in which each floral axis terminated into a single flower.The scorpioid cyme follows a zigzag pattern in the arrangement of flowers.

Complete answer:
Inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem with a branch or a system of branches.
There are six main types of inflorescence.
>Cymose inflorescence- The main axis is terminated by development of a flower. Lateral axes bear the younger flowers and they originate from the terminal ones. The oldest one is present at the tip while the younger ones are away from it.
There are mainly 4 types of cymose inflorescence:
> Monochasial cyme
> Dichasial cyme
>Polychasial cyme
>Cymose capitulum
Scorpioid is a type of monochasial chime. Its axis is curved and has lateral branches alternately on both sides of the axis e.g. Gossypium, Sundew, Heliotropium etc.In this cycle, the flowers open successively downwards from the apex and are always on the convex side of the axis.

Additional Information:
Types of inflorescence
>Racemose inflorescence- In this, the terminal bud keeps growing and forms lateral flowers and a terminal flower is never formed. Types include raceme, spike, umbel, spadix, capitulum, and catkin.
>Compound inflorescence- In this type, the main axis branches once or twice, repeatedly and grow in a racemose or cymose manner. The main types are, compound raceme, compound umbel, compound corymb, compound spike, compound spadix and compound head.
Cyathium- In this type, the female flower remains surrounded by male flowers arranged centrifugally. It is found in the genus Euphorbia.
>Verticillaster- This type is a condensed form of dichasial cyme with a group of sessile or sub-sessile flowers in the axil of a leaf, forming a false whorl of flowers at the node. This is found in the family of Lamiaceae.
>Hypanthodium- The receptacle forms a hollow cavity with apical opening present guarded by scales. The flowers are borne on the inner wall of the cavity. Example: Ficus carica, F. religiosa, F. glomerata etc.

Hence the correct answer is option C, ‘Heliotropium’.

Note: The flowers in cymose inflorescence may be pedicellate or sessile. The type of opening of flowers is centrifugal.Scorpioid cyme is also known as alternate side cyme.