Bloemkop

Bloemkop, often written bloemkop, is a term used in botany and horticulture to denote the flower head of many species in the family Asteraceae. Rather than a single flower, a bloemkop is an inflorescence—a compact cluster of many small flowers (florets) that together resemble one bloom. The head is typically composed of a ring of ray florets around a center of disk florets, though some heads contain only disk florets or only ray florets.

An involucre of bracts, called phyllaries, surrounds the head, and the receptacle is the base on which the florets sit. After pollination, florets may develop into seeds, often with a specialized structure called a pappus that aids wind dispersal in many species.

Bloemkoppen are characteristic of many decorative plants, such as sunflowers (radiate heads), daisies, chamomiles, and chrysanthemums. The morphology and arrangement of the florets influence the appearance of the head and its suitability for cut flowers. In horticulture, breeders often select for head shape, size, color, and the presence of long-lasting florets.

Terminology varies by language and group, but in Dutch the term bloemkop is widely used to describe this composite inflorescence. The concept is central to understanding the reproductive strategy of many Asteraceae species and their ecological interactions with pollinators.