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Glite Dictionary
cymose

cymose

9.9
A flower cluster where the center flower opens first, making a flat top
  • adjective
  • /ˈsɪmoʊs/
  • Specialized
: cimoso
  • The botanist explained that a cymose arrangement is different from a racemose one in flower development.

Examples

  • In cymose clusters, the central flower opens first, followed by those on the sides.

  • The plant produces cymose inflorescences, which are easily distinguished from other types by their structure.

  • Look at that cymose cluster in the garden!

  • The cymose arrangement of flowers created a beautiful flat top.

  • In a cymose cluster, the flower at the top blooms first, giving it a flat appearance.

  • The gardener noted that the cymose flowers open sequentially, starting with the highest bloom.

  • This plant features a cymose inflorescence, where the center flower leads the blooming process.

Surface Forms

cymose positive

Morphology

cymose = cyme (transparent) = cyme + ose

Formed by the regular adjectival suffix '-ose' added to the botanical noun 'cyme', yielding 'relating to or having cymes'.

Etymology

Cymose comes from the old Greek word kyma, later Latin cyma, meaning 'wave' or 'swelling'. Imagine a small wave with its top in the middle: the middle flower opens first and then the side flowers follow, so a cymose cluster has the central flower open before the others.