Inflorescence - general term for the arrangement of flowers or groups of flowers on a plant. There is great diversity in this arrangement among different types of plants, but they generally remain characteristic for a particular type and may be useful in identifying species. Pedicels come from different points on the main peduncle, giving the inflorescence a rather flat-topped or convex look with the outside flowers opening first. This gives the inflorescence a knob-like look. The outer flowers open first.
Disk flowers cover the remainder of the head and are regular, symmetrical, and usually less showy.
Heads may also have flowers which are all irregular with no differentiation into rays and disks. They are often found under umbels and heads. Cymose Inflorescences - Upward growth of the floral axis is stopped early by the development of a terminal flower. The floral axis ceases to elongate after the first flower opens, and is therefore a determinate inflorescence. Examples are Plumeria spp.