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The term particularly applied to the early flowering and seeding of vegetables, such as lettuce, which often renders them unfit for culinary use. Sometimes referred to as 'running to seed'.

A cluster of flowers in which the stalked blooms grow from a single axis, with the stalks graduating in size - progressively shorter from the base to the tip of the axis.

A plant that bears either male or female flowers, as opposed to both (see Monoecious). For purposes of fertilisation, a male plant will need to be set among a group of female plants.

1) The centre of a flower, where it's a different colour to the rest of the bloom.2) An undeveloped bud, eg, of a potato.

The artificial inducing of plant growth by the control of heat and light. In some cases light is increased to encourage early flowering, while in others, light is excluded to encourage earlier production and more tender growth.

The lowest subdivision of a species, ranking after variety. Often used to denote a trivial variation in a plant, eg, flower or leaf colour, size, etc.

The lip-like lower petal of an orchid flower, which is distinct from the others both in form and patterning. Serves as a platform for pollinating insects.

A hermaphrodite plant, ie, having both male and female flowers on the same plant. An example of this is the hazel, where the catkins are male and the buds are female.

The collective term used to describe the external floral parts of a flower, which includes the calyx and corolla. In a tulip, the combined sepals and petals are known as the perianth.

The female reproductive organs of a flower, comprising ovary, style and stigma. The pistil may be simple (a single carpel) or compound (a group of carpels).