What is the Difference Between Acropetal and Basipetal Order?

The main difference between acropetal and basipetal order lies in the arrangement of flowers in an inflorescence, which is a cluster of flowers grouped on a stem. There are two types of inflorescences: racemose and cymose.

• Acropetal Order: In this arrangement, young flowers appear at the apex of the inflorescence, while older flowers appear towards the base. Acropetal order is observed in racemose inflorescences, and the flowers grow laterally in an acropetal pattern. Examples of plants with acropetal order include snapdragon and mustard.
• Basipetal Order: In this arrangement, older flowers are at the apex of the basipetal order, while younger flowers are towards the base. Basipetal order is observed in cymose inflorescences. Examples of plants with basipetal order include hamelia and drosera.

In summary, the key difference between acropetal and basipetal order is that new flowers appear at the apex in acropetal order, while new flowers appear at the base or bottom of the inflorescence in basipetal order.

Comparative Table: Acropetal vs Basipetal Order

The difference between acropetal and basipetal order can be summarized in the following table:

• In acropetal order, new flowers are found at the apex, and older flowers are found at the base.
• In basipetal order, older flowers are found at the apex, and new flowers are found at the base.
• Acropetal order is observed in racemose inflorescence.
• Basipetal order is observed in cymose inflorescence.
• Acropetal order is unrestricted or indefinite, while basipetal order is definite or restricted.
• Acropetal order is witnessed in snapdragon and mustard, while basipetal order is witnessed in hamelia and drosera.