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racemose

racemose

9.9
Flowers on small stems along a long main stem that open from the bottom up
  • adjective
  • /ˈreɪsəˌmoʊs/
  • Specialized
: racemoso
  • Lily of the valley has a racemose inflorescence, with new flowers opening progressively from the bottom up.

Examples

  • Many shrubs display racemose clusters, providing a steady succession of blooms throughout the season.

  • Many species of orchids exhibit racemose flower arrangements.

  • The botanist described the wildflowers' racemose arrangement as a key identification feature.

  • The racemose structure of the plant allows for efficient pollination.

  • Lily of the valley has a racemose inflorescence, with new flowers opening progressively from the bottom up.

  • Many species of orchids exhibit racemose flower arrangements that allow them to maximize sunlight exposure.

  • The botanist noted that the racemose arrangement of the wildflowers was particularly effective for attracting pollinators.

Surface Forms

racemose positive

Morphology

racemose = raceme (transparent) = raceme + ose

Formed by the noun 'raceme' + the adjectival suffix '-ose', meaning 'having racemes' which directly matches the sense.

Etymology

Racemose comes from the Latin racemus, meaning 'a bunch of grapes'. So, imagine a long, grape-like cluster hanging on a stem — racemose describes flowers placed along a stem like that, with the lower ones opening first.