dichasium

[dahy-key-zhuhm, -zhee-uhm, -zee-uhm]

noun

Botany.

plural

dichasia 

1. a form of cymose inflorescence in which each axis produces a pair of lateral axes.

dichasium

/ daɪˈkeɪzɪəm /

noun

1. a cymose inflorescence in which each branch bearing a flower gives rise to two other flowering branches, as in the stitchwort Compare monochasium

Other Word Forms

• dichasial adjective
• dichasially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of dichasium¹

1870–75; < New Latin < Greek díchas ( is ) a division, derivative of dicházein to cleave (derivative of dícha apart) + Latin -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of dichasium¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek dikhasis a dividing, from dikhazein to divide in two, from dikha in two

Example Sentences

The term dichasium has also been applied to this form of cyme.

From Project Gutenberg

In some members of the order, as Dianthus barbatus, D. carthusianorum, &c., in which the peduncles are short, and the flowers closely approximated, with a centrifugal expansion, the inflorescence has the form of a contracted dichasium, and receives the name of fascicle.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes, especially towards the summit of a dichasium, owing to the exhaustion of the growing power of the plant, only one of the bracts gives origin to a new axis, the other remaining empty; thus the inflorescence becomes unilateral, and further development is arrested.

From Project Gutenberg