Spadix (botany)
In botany, a spadix (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; Template:Plural form: spadices Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell, Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a type of inflorescence having small flowers borne on a fleshy stem. Spadices are typical of the family Araceae, the arums or aroids. The spadix is typically surrounded by a leaf-like curved bract known as a spathe. For example, the "flower" of the well known Anthurium spp. is a typical spadix with a large colorful spathe.<ref>spadix. CollinsDictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved October 18, 2012.</ref>
In this type of inflorescence, the peduncle is thick, long and fleshy, having small sessile unisexual flowers covered with one or more large green or colourful bracts (spathe). Spadix inflorescence is found in colocasia, aroids, maize and palms (palms have compound spadix).Template:Citation needed
Monoecious aroids have unisexual male and female flowers on the same individual and the spadix is usually organized with female flowers towards the bottom and male flowers towards the top. Typically, the stigmas are no longer receptive when pollen is released which prevents self-fertilization.Template:Citation needed
In the compound spadix inflorescence, the axis is branched. Usually the whole inflorescence is covered by a stiff boat-shaped hood, for example the coconut (palms).Template:Citation needed
In many arums with unisexual (imperfect<ref name=yasuko2009>Template:Cite journal</ref>) spadices, the upper portion of the spadix contains infertile male flowers<ref name=handayani2020>Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Additional citations needed and is referred to as the appendix.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The appendix in certain species, such as Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, is enlarged, highly modified and shows variability in shape.<ref name=handayani2020/> In Arum maculatum the appendix length increases more rapidly with total spadix length than either the male or female zones.<ref name=chartiergibernau2009>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Male florets and the appendix may participate in thermogenesis.<ref name=yasuko2009/> The appendix may have additional specializations for odorant production.<ref name=chartiergibernau2009/><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
GalleryEdit
- Arum flower.jpg
Elephant ear or ape flower (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) with a white spadix partially surrounded by a green-, rose-, and cream-colored spathe
- Anthurium scherzerianum 2.jpg
Anthurium scherzerianum inflorescence with spathe and spadix
- Spathiphyllum floribundum1.jpg
Spadix of Spathiphyllum floribundum
- Titan-arum1web.jpg
Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) spadix at the United States Botanic Garden
- Flamingo Flower.JPG
Flamingo Lily (Anthurium andraeanum) at the United States Botanic Garden
- Jack in the pupit.jpg
Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) in the Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania)
- Funchal - Zantedeschia aethiopica IMG 1904.JPG
Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) in Funchal, Madeira
- Spadix of Spathiphyllum wallisii.JPG
Spadix of Spathiphyllum in Brazil
- Typha latifolia nf.jpg
Spadix of Typha latifolia
- Zantedeschia Spadix.jpg
Spadix of Zantedeschia elliottiana cultivar showing male flowers above with pollen and female below
- Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum RTBG.jpg
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum) clearly showing the characteristic spadix and spathe of the genus
- Solitary flower of ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia).jpg
Spadix of ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) with curled back spathe
ReferencesEdit
Further readingEdit
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