Question

Sessile and hermaphrodite flowers arranged in acropetal succession are found in:
A. Spadix
B. Corymb
C. Spike
D. Raceme

Answer 1

Hint: Flower basically is a modified shoot and is found in a diverse variety of arrangements of the shoot itself. It might be attached with a pedicle or without it also, can be dioecious or monoecious.

Complete answer:
Sessile flowers are those flowers which are found without a pedicel/stalk, flowers are directly born on the stem. Flowers of spikes and spadix inflorescence have sessile flowers. Hermaphrodite flowers are those which have both male and female organs present on a single flower that is stamen (male reproductive organ) and carpel (female reproductive organ) both are present.
In acropetal succession the new flowers and buds are produced at the apex of the stem while the older ones are present at the base. It is a modified racemose inflorescence. All these properties – sessile hermaphrodite flowers in acropetal succession are found in Spikes.

Spike is an indeterminate, unbranched inflorescence which is somewhat similar to raceme inflorescence but it has sessile flowers like in Malabar nut (Justicia adhatoda) and Chaff flowers.
Thus, the right option is C.

Additional Information:-
- Spadix infloresence is similar to spike except that they have unisexual flowers.
- Corymb inflorescence has flowers borne on pedicles and the pedicel of outermost flowers are longer than the pedicel of inner flowers due to which they get a flat appearance on the top as all the long pedicels come at the same level. Example – Norway maple.
- Raceme inflorescence is an unbranched and indeterminate inflorescence which has flowers with a pedicel. This type of inflorescence has no definite growth and can be seen in radish and mustard plants.

Note: Peduncle is a point on the stem that holds the flowers in an inflorescence whereas Pedicel is stalk with which single is attached to the stem. Rachis is a point on the stem that is holding several branches or inflorescence.