Blütenachse

Blütenachse is a term in botany that refers to the axis of a flower-bearing structure, the stalk or central stem along which flowers or floral units are arranged. It is a component of the inflorescence architecture and helps determine how flowers are distributed on the flowering shoot.

In inflorescences, the Blütenachse may correspond to the main axis (peduncle) or to a secondary axis (rachis) that bears individual flowers or pedicels. Flowers are typically attached to the Blütenachse via pedicels, although some flowers can be sessile, directly on the axis. The length, spacing, and branching pattern of the Blütenachse influence the overall appearance and organization of the inflorescence, for example in racemes, panicles, spikes, or umbels.

Common variations include elongated Blütenachsen that produce multiple flowers along their length (raceme or panicle) and shortened or reduced axes in more compact inflorescences. The concept is distinct from the peduncle (the stalk of the entire inflorescence) and from the individual flower stalks (pedicels).

The Blütenachse is a key element in the study of plant morphology and taxonomy because inflorescence architecture, including the arrangement and development of the Blütenachse, is often characteristic of particular plant groups. Etymologically, it derives from Blüte (flower) and Achse (axis). See also inflorescence, rachis, peduncle, and pedicel.