panicle

[pan-i-kuh l] /ˈpæn ɪ kəl/
noun, Botany
1.
a compound raceme.
2.
any loose, diversely branching flower cluster.
Origin
1590-1600; < Latin pānicula tuft (on plants), diminutive of pānus thread wound on a bobbin, a swelling, ear of millet < Doric Greek pânos (Attic pênos) a web; see -i-, -cle1
Related forms
panicled, adjective
Examples from the web for panicle
  • Each tiller has a head, or panicle, that actually produces the grains of rice.
  • The spreading panicle bears many tiny reddish colored flowers.
  • It is a prolific seed producer with open panicle seed production in mid summer and closed panicle seed set in late fall.
  • The inflorescence is an elongate panicle with creamy white flowers.
  • The chasmogamous seed is produced in the exposed panicle and is sometimes referred to as terminal seed.
  • panicle is a raceme with branches and each branch having a smaller raceme of flowers.
British Dictionary definitions for panicle

panicle

/ˈpænɪkəl/
noun
1.
a compound raceme, occurring esp in grasses
2.
any branched inflorescence
Derived Forms
panicled, adjective
Word Origin
C16: from Latin pānicula tuft, diminutive of panus thread, ultimately from Greek penos web; related to penion bobbin
panicle in Science
panicle
  (pān'ĭ-kəl)   
A branched indeterminate inflorescence in which the branches are racemes, so that each flower has its own stalk (called a pedicel) attached to the branch. Oats and sorghum have panicles. See illustration at inflorescence.