The Inflorescence — NEET Biology MCQs with Solutions
Free NEET Biology The Inflorescence MCQs with step-by-step solutions (19 questions). Part of Morphology of Flowering Plants. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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Questions with solutions
Q1 — The Inflorescence · easy · theory
An inflorescence in which the main axis continues to grow and flowers are borne laterally in acropetal succession is:
A. Cymose
B. Solitary
C. Racemose ✓ Correct
D. Cyathium
Solution: In racemose inflorescence the main axis keeps growing and older flowers are at the base (acropetal).
Q2 — The Inflorescence · easy · theory
In a cymose inflorescence, the main axis:
A. Grows indefinitely
B. Never bears flowers
C. Bears flowers in acropetal order
D. Terminates in a flower and has limited growth ✓ Correct
Solution: In cymose inflorescence the main axis ends in a flower (basipetal order); growth is limited.
Q3 — The Inflorescence · medium · theory
The capitulum (head) inflorescence, as in sunflower/Asteraceae, consists of:
A. A single terminal flower
B. Sessile florets crowded on a flattened receptacle ✓ Correct
C. A branched cyme
D. Flowers on long pedicels
Solution: The capitulum bears numerous sessile florets (ray + disc) on a broad receptacle — a racemose type.
Q4 — The Inflorescence · medium · theory
Acropetal succession of flowers means the:
A. Youngest flowers are at the base
B. All flowers open together
C. Youngest flowers are near the tip and oldest near the base ✓ Correct
D. Flowers open from tip to base
Solution: Acropetal (racemose): oldest at base, youngest at apex — opposite to the basipetal cymose pattern.
Q5 — The Inflorescence · hard · theory
The specialised cyathium inflorescence (Euphorbia) mimics a single flower and contains:
A. A single male flower
B. Many male flowers (each a single stamen) around one female flower ✓ Correct
C. Ray and disc florets
D. Only bisexual flowers
Solution: The cyathium has a cup-shaped involucre enclosing many reduced male flowers and one central female flower.
Q6 — The Inflorescence · hard · theory
Which correctly distinguishes racemose from cymose inflorescence?
A. Cymose — indefinite axis, acropetal
B. Racemose — main axis ends in a flower
C. Both have unlimited growth
D. Racemose — indefinite main axis, acropetal; Cymose — main axis ends in a flower, basipetal ✓ Correct
Solution: The key distinction is the fate of the main axis and the direction of flower opening.
Q7 — The Inflorescence · easy · numerical
In a racemose inflorescence, the arrangement of flowers is such that:
A. All flowers arise at the same level from a common point at the tip
B. The main axis keeps growing and the oldest flowers are at the base with youngest near the tip ✓ Correct
C. The main axis ends in a flower and the oldest flower is at the top
D. The youngest flowers are always at the base of the axis
Solution: In a racemose inflorescence the main axis has unlimited growth and bears flowers in acropetal succession — old at the base, young at the apex.
Q8 — The Inflorescence · easy · numerical
In a cymose inflorescence the main axis terminates in a flower, so its growth is:
A. Always spiral
B. Unlimited (indefinite)
C. Always acropetal
D. Limited (definite) ✓ Correct
Solution: A cymose inflorescence has limited (definite) growth because the tip of the main axis is used up in forming a terminal flower; further flowers arise laterally in basipetal order.
Q9 — The Inflorescence · medium · numerical
A single terminal flower gives rise to two lateral branches, each again ending in a flower and branching once more. This dichasial (biparous) branching pattern is characteristic of which inflorescence?
A. Racemose inflorescence
B. Cymose inflorescence ✓ Correct
C. Corymb
D. Spike
Solution: Repeated branching where each axis ends in a flower and produces two lateral branches (dichasial cyme) is a cymose type; racemose types never end the main axis in a flower.
Q10 — The Inflorescence · medium · numerical
Which correctly describes the order in which flowers open in racemose versus cymose inflorescences?
A. Racemose opens basipetally; cymose opens acropetally
B. Racemose opens acropetally (base to apex); cymose opens basipetally/centrifugally (apex to base) ✓ Correct
C. Both open acropetally from base to apex
D. Both open basipetally from apex to base
Solution: In racemose types flowers open in acropetal succession (basal oldest); in cymose types the terminal flower opens first, so opening proceeds basipetally/centrifugally.
Q11 — The Inflorescence · medium · numerical
In the mustard plant the flowers are arranged on an elongated main axis, each flower stalked, and the axis keeps growing at the tip. This particular racemose inflorescence is a:
A. Spike
B. Umbel
C. Spadix
D. Raceme ✓ Correct
Solution: A raceme has stalked (pedicellate) flowers on an elongated, growing main axis, as in mustard and radish. A spike bears sessile flowers; an umbel has flowers from one point.
Q12 — The Inflorescence · medium · numerical
Which statement about a solitary flower versus an inflorescence is correct?
A. An inflorescence is the arrangement of a cluster of flowers on the floral axis, whereas a solitary flower is borne singly ✓ Correct
B. A solitary flower is always terminal and an inflorescence is always axillary
C. An inflorescence always bears sessile flowers only
D. A solitary flower cannot arise in the axil of a leaf
Solution: An inflorescence is the mode of arrangement of a group of flowers on the floral axis; a single flower borne alone (axillary or terminal) is a solitary flower.
Q13 — The Inflorescence · easy · theory
Individual flowers are attached to the inflorescence axis by the
A. Petiole
B. Pedicel ✓ Correct
C. Bract
D. Peduncle
Solution: Each flower is borne on a stalk called the pedicel which attaches it to the inflorescence axis.
Q14 — The Inflorescence · easy · theory
In which inflorescence are flowers borne in basipetal order?
A. Racemose
B. Cymose ✓ Correct
C. Spike
D. Corymb
Solution: In cymose inflorescence the main axis ends in a flower and younger flowers develop below in basipetal order.
Q15 — The Inflorescence · easy · theory
In a racemose inflorescence, flowers are arranged in
A. Basipetal order
B. Centrifugal order
C. Acropetal order ✓ Correct
D. Both acropetal and centrifugal order
Solution: In racemose inflorescence the main axis keeps growing and flowers develop in acropetal succession (older below, younger above).
Q16 — The Inflorescence · easy · theory
The axis of an inflorescence is called the
A. Pedicel
B. Peduncle ✓ Correct
C. Petiole
D. Rachilla
Solution: The main stalk bearing the whole inflorescence is the peduncle, while a pedicel is the stalk of an individual flower.
Q17 — The Inflorescence · medium · theory
Assertion (A): Bract is a kind of reduced leaf found at the base of the pedicel. Reason (R): Flowers with bracts are called ebracteate and those without bracts are called abracteate.
A. Assertion is true, but reason is false ✓ Correct
B. Both assertion and reason are false
C. Both assertion and reason are true, but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion
D. Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion
Solution: Bract is correctly defined, but the terms are reversed: flowers with bracts are bracteate and those without are ebracteate.
Q18 — The Inflorescence · medium · theory
Cymose inflorescence is found in
A. Trifolium
B. Brassica
C. Sesbania
D. Solanum ✓ Correct
Solution: Solanum bears a cymose inflorescence where the main axis ends in a flower.
Q19 — The Inflorescence · hard · theory
In an inflorescence where flowers are borne laterally in acropetal succession, the position of the youngest floral bud is
A. Intercalary
B. Distal (near the base)
C. Proximal (near the apex) ✓ Correct
D. Random
Solution: In acropetal (racemose) succession older flowers are at the base and younger buds lie near the growing apex.