Raceme vs. Spike — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 7, 2024
A raceme has individual flowers with their own stems attached to a central stalk, whereas a spike has flowers directly attached to the main stalk without individual stems.
Difference Between Raceme and Spike
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A raceme is a type of inflorescence where flowers are arranged along a central axis, each on its own short stem called a pedicel. This structure allows for more spacing between flowers, providing a distinctive branching appearance. In contrast, a spike also features flowers along a central axis but lacks individual pedicels. The flowers attach directly to the main stem, creating a more compact and elongated structure.
Racemes tend to have flowers that are more spaced apart due to their stems, making the arrangement appear looser. This structure can be seen in plants like lupine. Spikes, however, showcase flowers densely packed along the main stem, often appearing in plants like wheat or cattails. Their compactness is due to the absence of individual flower stalks.
Racemes and spikes are both unbranched inflorescences but differ in how they present their flowers. While racemes rely on short pedicels for separation, spikes rely on the main axis alone.
Comparison Chart
Flower Arrangement
Individual pedicels
Directly on main axis
Central Axis
Present
Present
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Flower Density
Spaced apart
Densely packed
Examples
Lupine, snapdragon
Wheat, cattail
Overall Appearance
Looser and branching
Compact and elongated
Compare with Definitions
Raceme
A type of inflorescence with individual flowers on short stems.
The lupine plant's raceme exhibited vibrant blue flowers.
Spike
An inflorescence where flowers attach directly to the main stem.
The wheat spike swayed gently in the breeze.
Raceme
An elongated cluster where the youngest flowers are at the top.
Racemes in foxgloves provide a striking visual contrast.
Spike
A type of inflorescence with an unbranched, central axis.
The gardener pruned the dead spikes to encourage new growth.
Raceme
A flower cluster with pedicels attached to a central axis.
Snapdragons display their colorful blooms in a raceme.
Spike
An arrangement without pedicels, where flowers directly attach.
Lavender produces fragrant purple spikes.
Raceme
An unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence type.
The gardener admired the graceful raceme structure.
Spike
A floral structure that is elongated and densely packed.
Cattails have distinctive brown spikes.
Raceme
A floral arrangement where blooms open sequentially from bottom to top.
Racemes of wisteria give off a sweet fragrance.
Spike
A floral cluster that matures from bottom to top.
The foxglove's spikes added height to the floral border.
Raceme
A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing pedicellate flowers (flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels) along its axis. In botany, an axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers.
Spike
A long, thick, sharp-pointed piece of wood or metal.
Raceme
An inflorescence having stalked flowers arranged singly along an elongated unbranched axis, with the flowers at the bottom opening first.
Spike
A heavy nail.
Raceme
(botany) An indeterminate inflorescence in which the flowers are arranged along a single central axis.
Spike
A sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall.
Raceme
A flower cluster with an elongated axis and many one-flowered lateral pedicels, as in the currant and chokecherry.
Spike
A thin, sharp-pointed vertical rod for impaling papers; a spindle.
Raceme
Usually elongate cluster of flowers along the main stem in which the flowers at the base open first
Spike
An elongate unbranched inflorescence with sessile flowers.
Spike
A thorn or spine.
Spike
A tuft of hair that is stiffened, as with hair spray or soap, into a point.
Spike
(Slang) A hypodermic needle.
Spike
One of several sharp metal projections set in the sole or in the sole and heel of an athletic shoe for grip.
Spike
Spikes A pair of athletic shoes having such projections.
Spike
Spikes A pair of spike heels.
Spike
An unbranched antler of a young deer.
Spike
A young mackerel of small size, usually 15 centimeters (6 inches) or less in length.
Spike
A sharp rise followed by a sharp decline in a graph or in the tracing of a scientific instrument.
Spike
A sharp momentary increase in voltage or electric current.
Spike
A sudden steep increase in prices.
Spike
(Sports) The act of driving a volleyball at a sharp angle into the opponent's court by jumping near the net and hitting the ball down hard from above.
Spike
(Football) The act of slamming the ball to the ground after succeeding in an important play, as after scoring a touchdown.
Spike
(Football) The act of deliberately throwing the ball to the ground as an incomplete pass in order to stop the game clock.
Spike
An ear of grain, as of wheat.
Spike
(Botany) A usually elongated, unbranched inflorescence with stalkless flowers arranged along an axis.
Spike
To secure or provide with a spike.
Spike
To shape into spikes.
Spike
To impale, pierce, or injure with a spike.
Spike
To injure with spiked shoes, especially when sliding in baseball.
Spike
To put an end to; terminate
Spike a rumor.
Spike
To add alcoholic liquor to
Spiked the punch with rum.
Spike
To add a poison or other chemical to
A drink spiked with barbiturates.
Spike
To add flavor or spice to
"Miss Jane brought him ... cold spring water spiked with a dash of vinegar and a touch of molasses" (Howard Frank Mosher).
Spike
To add excitement or vitality to
Spiked the speech with many jokes.
Spike
(Sports) To hit (a volleyball) in a spike.
Spike
(Football) To throw (the ball) to the ground in a spike.
Spike
To render (a muzzleloading gun) useless by driving a spike into the vent.
Spike
To manifest or undergo a sudden increase in (something) followed by a sharp decrease
Spike a high fever.
Spike
To manifest or undergo a sudden increase followed by a sharp decrease
Traffic to the website spiked after the scandal broke.
Spike
A sort of very large nail.
Spike
A piece of pointed metal etc. set with points upward or outward.
The trap was lined with spikes.
Spike
(by extension) Anything resembling such a nail in shape.
Spike
An ear of corn or grain.
Spike
(botany) A kind of inflorescence in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.
Spike
A running shoe with spikes in the sole to provide grip.
Spike
A sharp peak in a graph.
Spike
A surge in power or in the price of a commodity, etc.; any sudden and brief change that would be represented by a sharp peak on a graph.
Spike
The rod-like protrusion from a woman's high-heeled shoe that elevates the heel.
Spike
A long nail for storing papers by skewering them; (by extension) the metaphorical place where rejected newspaper articles are sent.
Spike
(volleyball) An attack from, usually, above the height of the net performed with the intent to send the ball straight to the floor of the opponent or off the hands of the opposing block.
Spike
(zoology) An adolescent male deer.
Spike
The casual ward of a workhouse.
Spike
Spike lavender.
Oil of spike
Spike
Synonym of endpin.
Spike
(theater) A mark indicating where a prop or other item should be placed on stage.
Spike
A small project that uses the simplest possible program to explore potential solutions.
Spike
To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails.
To spike down planks
Spike
To set or furnish with spikes.
Spike
To embed nails into (a tree) so that any attempt to cut it down will damage equipment or injure people.
Spike
To fix on a spike.
Spike
To discard; to decide not to publish or make public.
Spike
To increase sharply.
Traffic accidents spiked in December when there was ice on the roads.
Spike
To covertly put alcohol or another intoxicating substance into a drink.
She spiked my lemonade with vodka!
Spike
To add a small amount of one substance to another.
The water sample to be tested has been spiked with arsenic, antimony, mercury, and lead in quantities commonly found in industrial effluents.
Spike
(volleyball) To attack from, usually, above the height of the net with the intent to send the ball straight to the floor of the opponent or off the hands of the opposing block.
Spike
(military) To render (a gun) unusable by driving a metal spike into its touch hole.
Spike
To slam the football to the ground, usually in celebration of scoring a touchdown, or to stop expiring time on the game clock after snapping the ball as to save time for the losing team to attempt to score the tying or winning points.
To spike the football
Spike
(slang) To inject a drug with a syringe.
Spike
A sort of very large nail; also, a piece of pointed iron set with points upward or outward.
Spike
Anything resembling such a nail in shape.
He wears on his head the corona radiata . . . ; the spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun.
Spike
An ear of corn or grain.
Spike
A kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.
Spike
Spike lavender. See Lavender.
Spike
To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails; as, to spike down planks.
Spike
To set or furnish with spikes.
Spike
To fix on a spike.
Spike
To stop the vent of (a gun or cannon) by driving a spike nail, or the like into it.
Spike
A transient variation in voltage or current
Spike
Sports equipment consisting of a sharp point on the sole of a shoe worn by athletes;
Spikes provide greater traction
Spike
Fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn
Spike
(botany) an indeterminate inflorescence bearing sessile flowers on an unbranched axis
Spike
A sharp rise followed by a sharp decline;
The seismograph showed a sharp spike in response to the temblor
Spike
A sharp-pointed projection along the top of a fence or wall
Spike
A long sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal)
Spike
Any holding device consisting of a long sharp-pointed object
Spike
A long metal nail
Spike
Stand in the way of
Spike
Pierce with a sharp stake or point;
Impale a shrimp on a skewer
Spike
Secure with spikes
Spike
Bring forth a spike or spikes;
My hyacinths and orchids are spiking now
Spike
Add alcohol beverages
Spike
Manifest a sharp increase;
The voltage spiked
Common Curiosities
What kind of plants commonly have racemes?
Plants like lupine and snapdragon often exhibit racemes.
How do the flowers mature in racemes compared to spikes?
In both racemes and spikes, flowers generally mature from the bottom up, with the youngest flowers at the top.
What are some examples of plants with spikes?
Wheat, cattail, and lavender are common plants with spike inflorescences.
How does a raceme differ from a spike in floral arrangement?
A raceme features flowers with individual stems, while a spike has flowers directly attached to the central stalk.
What role do pedicels play in the structure of racemes?
Pedicels help separate flowers from the central axis, giving racemes a more branched appearance.
Which inflorescence type is more suitable for dense flowering?
Spikes are more suitable for dense flowering because flowers grow directly on the central stem without intervening pedicels.
Which inflorescence type is better for attracting pollinators?
Racemes can sometimes be more attractive due to their spaced arrangement, but spikes can also attract pollinators due to their dense flowering.
Which inflorescence type is more compact, raceme or spike?
Spikes are generally more compact due to the absence of individual flower stems.
Which inflorescence type offers better flower separation, raceme or spike?
A raceme provides better separation because of the short stems (pedicels) that separate the flowers from the central stalk.
Can racemes and spikes be branched?
No, both racemes and spikes are unbranched inflorescences.
How does the position of flowers differ in racemes and spikes?
In racemes, flowers are positioned away from the main axis due to their pedicels, while in spikes, flowers attach directly to the main stem.
Do racemes and spikes appear in similar plant families?
Both can appear in various plant families, but some families are more likely to produce one type than the other.
Are spikes only found in grasses and cereals?
No, spikes also occur in other plants, such as lavender and cattail, not just in grasses and cereals.
Are both racemes and spikes considered indeterminate inflorescences?
Yes, both racemes and spikes are indeterminate, meaning flowers continue to develop and mature along the axis.
Are there intermediate forms between racemes and spikes?
Yes, some plants display intermediate forms known as spike-like racemes or racemose spikes.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
