– Definition of Umbel:
– Inflorescence in botany
– Consists of short flower stalks
– Resembles umbrella ribs
– Coined in the 1590s from Latin
– Can be simple or compound
– Characteristics of Umbels:
– Found in plants like carrot, parsley, dill
– Also in ivy, Aralia, Fatsia
– Umbel is indeterminate inflorescence
– Compressed cyme is umbelliform
– Arrangement can be flat-topped or spherical
– Types of Umbels:
– Secondary umbels are umbellules
– Small umbel is umbellule
– Arrangement referred to as umbellate
– Some are subumbellate
– Determinate inflorescence is umbelliform
– References and Further Reading:
– Flora of China
– The Kew Plant Glossary
– Vascular Plant Taxonomy
– Studies on Daucus carota
– Research on Pseudomonas syringae pv. coriandricola
– Contribution to Plant Science:
– Umbel initiation in Fennel
– Characteristics in Apiaceae, Araliaceae
– Botanical studies on umbels
– Importance in plant classification
– Research on seed decay in coriander
In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin umbella "parasol, sunshade". The arrangement can vary from being flat-topped to almost spherical. Umbels can be simple or compound. The secondary umbels of compound umbels are known as umbellules or umbellets. A small umbel is called an umbellule. The arrangement of the inflorescence in umbels is referred to as umbellate, or occasionally subumbellate (almost umbellate).
Umbels are a characteristic of plants such as carrot, parsley, dill, and fennel in the family Apiaceae; ivy, Aralia and Fatsia in the family Araliaceae; and onion (Allium) in the family Alliaceae.
An umbel is a type of indeterminate inflorescence. A compressed cyme, which is a determinate inflorescence, is called umbelliform if it resembles an umbel.