Question

A flask-shaped fleshy receptacle enclosing both the types of flowers is present in?

• A. Cyathium
• B. Hypanthodium
• C. Coenanthium
• D. Spadix

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Hypanthodium

A. Cyathium looks like a single flower. A cup-shaped involucre formed by bracts encloses a single female flower and a number of male flowers. Each male flower is represented by a single stamen while a single pistil represents a female flower. It is a type of cymose inflorescence. The example is euphorbia.

B. Hypanthodium is fleshy receptacle forming a hollow cavity with an apical opening called ostiole. The flowers are developed on the inner wall of the hollow cavity. The male flowers are situated at the top near the opening, at the bottom are situated the female flowers with long styles and in between both are situated short-styled gall flowers which are sterile. It is a type of cymose inflorescence. The example is banyan.

C. Coenanthium with a receptacle, instead of forming a closed structure, becomes saucer-shaped with the margins slightly curved up.

D. The spadix is a spike with a fleshy axis and having both male and female flowers. It is surrounded by large colored bracts called spathe. It is a type of racemose inflorescence. The example is palm.

So, the correct answer is 'Hypanthodium'.