Reproduction is a critical phase of each seed plant life cycle. Different kinds of seed plants have distinctive reproductive structures. In some, for example, they are like cones (such as pine cones), and these seed plants are called the conifers. Another group of seed plants, the angiosperms, produces flowers at the time of reproduction (because they make flowers, the angiosperms are commonly called the "flowering plants"). In the angiosperms, flowers are the location of seed production.

Flowers are produced by shoot systems in specialized regions called inflorescences. The broccoli we find in groceries is an inflorescence. Broccoli consists of the tip of a stem that is branched, and each branch bears a cluster of numerous flowers. We eat broccoli at a stage when the flowers are still young and not fully developed (well before the time of seed production).

Broccoli

Flower buds are clustered at the tips of broccoli stems.