Panicle

A panicle is a type of flower cluster. It is made up of branches off the main stem. Each flower has a short stalk that connects to a branch.

Drawing from Wikimedia Commons

My friend Alf says they’re called panicles because the flowers are panicking, going in all directions.

The short flower stalks are called pedicels (Latin for “little foot”).

For example:

Rose Meadowsweet – photo courtesy Steve Matson

For more on types of flower clusters, see inflorescences.

For more on panicles, see Wikipedia.

Corrections/Comments: bruce@PlantID.net