bloemhoofd

Bloemhoofd

Bloemhoofd is a Dutch term used in botany to describe a specific type of inflorescence common to the family Asteraceae, also known as the composite flower family. It refers to a capitulum, a compact inflorescence that appears as a single flower to the observer but is actually made up of many smaller flowers (florets) densely arranged on a common receptacle and typically surrounded by involucral bracts forming an involucre.

A bloemhoofd usually consists of two main types of florets. Disk florets are centrally positioned and often tubular, while ray florets are located at the edge and have elongated corollas that resemble petals. In some heads, only one type of floret is present, resulting in either discoid heads (only disk florets) or ligulate heads (only ligulate ray florets). The aggregate arrangement can produce the familiar daisy-, sunflower-, or aster-like appearance.

Development occurs on the receptacle, with florets maturing in concert to form a single perceived bloom. The head is typically pollinated by insects that are attracted to the composite structure and, in many species, the color contrast between the central disk and the peripheral rays.

In botanical terminology, bloemhoofd is effectively synonymous with capitulum. It contrasts with ordinary single flowers because a bloemhoofd comprises many flowers sharing a common base. See also Asteraceae, capitulum, inflorescence, ray florets, disk florets.