Sympodium

Sympodium, a type of branching in which at each bifurcation one branch develops more vigorously than the other, so that the successive strong-growing branches form a pseud-axis, on which the weaker branches appear to be lateral ontgrowths. Sympodia are of four kinds:

I. In one plane, forming a bilateral system.

  A. The Rhipidium or fan, with the branches alternately in opposite directions.

  B. The Drepanimn or sickle, with the branches all to one side.

II. In different planes, forming a radial system.

  C. The Cicinnus, with the branches alternately in opposite directions.

  D. The Bostryx, with the branches all to one side.