Difference Between Pedicel and Peduncle

The key difference between pedicel and peduncle is that pedicel is the stalk that holds an individual flower, while peduncle is the main stalk that holds a complete inflorescence.

A flower is the main reproductive structure of flowering plants or angiosperms. There are several types of simple flowers, composite flowers and inflorescences. A simple flower is a single flower that has only one pedicel or flower stalk. The inflorescence is a cluster of flowers attached to one main stalk called peduncle. Thus, the peduncle is the stalk of the inflorescence. Pedicel facilitates the connection between an individual flower and peduncle of an inflorescence. In fact, both pedicel and peduncle are stems that support flowers.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pedicel
3. What is Peduncle
4. Similarities Between Pedicel and Peduncle
5. Side by Side Comparison – Pedicel vs Peduncle in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Pedicel?

The pedicel is the stalk that holds a single flower. In inflorescence, pedicel connects single flowers to the main stalk or the peduncle of the inflorescence. Generally, most flowers have a pedicel to connect a flower to stem or peduncle. However, some flowers do not possess a pedicel. They are flowers called sessile flowers. Spike is an inflorescence that has sessile flowers. In simple words, pedicles are absent in spikes.

Figure 01: Pedicel and Peduncle

Moreover, the length of the pedicels varies in different types of inflorescences. In umbel type inflorescence, pedicels occur in the same length. In corymb, pedicels are of different lengths, which bring them all to the same level.

What is Peduncle?

The peduncle is the main stalk that holds an inflorescence. In other words, the peduncle is the main stem that holds a group of pedicels in an inflorescence. In spadix, the peduncle is fleshy. Capitulum has a flattened peduncle. Racemose type inflorescence has an elongated peduncle. Spikes also have an elongated peduncle.

Figure 02: Peduncle

Moreover, the peduncle is reduced in umbel type inflorescence. Most importantly, compound racemose type inflorescence has a branched peduncle. Also, some peduncles bear small leaves while most are leafless. Most of the peduncles are green in colour while some are florally coloured.

What are the Similarities Between Pedicel and Peduncle?

Both pedicel and peduncle are supporting stalks of flowers in angiosperms.
In fact, they are stems of the plants.
In most cases, both pedicels and peduncles are present in the same inflorescence.
They are green in colour.

What is the Difference Between Pedicel and Peduncle?

The pedicel is the stalk that holds a single flower, while peduncle is that main stalk that holds an inflorescence. So, this is the key difference between pedicel and peduncle. In one inflorescence, there are several pedicles, but there is only one peduncle. Furthermore, a spike is an inflorescence that lacks pedicels. But, it has an elongated peduncle. Hence, this too is a difference between pedicle and peduncle.

Summary – Pedicel vs Peduncle

Pedicel holds a single flower while peduncle holds an inflorescence. So pedicel is the flower stalk while peduncle is the inflorescence stalk. Both pedicel and peduncle are stems which are mostly green in colour. Some flowers do not have a pedicel. They are sessile flowers. However, in florescence, only one peduncle is present while there are several pedicels. So, this summarizes the difference between pedicel and peduncle.

Reference:

“Peduncle (Botany).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Jan. 2019, Available here.
“Pedicel (Botany).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 June 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Pedicel (PSF)” By Pearson Scott Foresman – Archives of Pearson Scott Foresman, donated to the Wikimedia FoundationThis file has been extracted from another file: PSF P-670001.png (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “The first book of botany – designed to cultivate the observing powers of children (1870) (14581618618)” By Youmans, Eliza A. (Eliza Ann), b. 1826 – (No restrictions) via Commons Wikimedia