A plant of the mustard family has a raceme…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A plant of the mustard family has a raceme. Its first flower opens at the base on day , and a new flower opens at the tip every days (a made-up rate). (a) How many flowers are open after days? (b) On which day does the tenth flower open? (c) Which flower is the oldest on day ?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
An inflorescence is the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis. Racemose: the main axis continues to grow, flowers open in acropetal order, the oldest at the base and the youngest at the tip. Cymose: the main axis ends in a flower, growth is limited, flowers open in basipetal order. The pedicel is the stalk of one flower; the peduncle is the stalk of the cluster.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. The count. One flower opens every days, and the first opens on day . In days there are new flowers, besides the first. So flowers.
Step 2. The tenth flower. It comes steps after the first: . It opens on day .
Step 3. The oldest. On a raceme the oldest flower is at the base.
Answer: (a) flowers; (b) day ; (c) the flower at the base.
Discussion (0)
Log in to join the discussion.
Loading…