Inflorescence - peduncle

[Katica Ilic]

Dr. Mathieu,

Part of your confusion is perhaps due to the inaccurate definitions for
inflorescence and stem that we adopted in POC.  Updates to
APWeb-Glossary are in order for these terms (and few others), meanwhile
let me give you these 3 definitions hoping to clarify the issue.

Stem: the axial system of plants which is usually above ground and more
or less negatively geotropic, bears leaves and buds, is exogenous in
origin, often indeterminate in growth and with secondary thickening.

Inflorescence: That part of the axial system of plants that bears
flowers.

Peduncle: the stalk of an inforescene; that part of the inflorescence
below the first flower or inflorescence branch and above the last
foliage leaf.

Therefore, peduncle is part of inflorescence.

Felipe


On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, Guido Mathieu wrote:

> As can be seen in the PO browser the peduncle is considered as an integral part
> of the inflorescence.
> According to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website / Glossary, the peduncle is
> defined as: the stalk of an inflorescence, i.e. that 'part of the axis of an
> inflorescence' below the insertion of any flowers or inflorescence branches.
> Personally I completely agree with all this but I see so many literature (&
> Internet) references where the peduncle is considered as:
> 'the portion of stem' above the leaves and below the lowest branching point of
> the inflorescence, i.e. a part of the stem and not of the inflorescence. The
> difference is extremely important when measurements are recorded. I would be
> very pleased to hear some good arguments to defend the PO point of view.
>
> Thanks!
> Guido.
>
> Dr. Guido Mathieu
> Peperomia Research Group
> Department of Biology
> Ghent University
> K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35,
> B-9000 Gent. Belgium
>

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