1) Of leaves or flowers 2) Successive from apex to base 
developing sequentially from the apex towards the base (i.e. with the youngest towards the base); e.g. of flowers in an inflorescence. Also, moving from leaves to roots, e.g. of molecular signals in plants.
Successive from apex to base. 
Developing, in sequence, from the apex towards the base. ... Compare: acropetal. ... (09 Oct 1997) ... 
(bә-sip´ә-tәl) descending toward the base; developing in the direction of the base.
Type: Term Pronunciation: bā-sip′ĕ-tăl Definitions: 1. In a direction toward the base. 2. Pertaining to asexual conidial production in fungi, in which successive budding of the basal conidium forms in an unbranched chain with the youngest at the base.
[adj] - (botany) of leaves or flowers
adjective of leaves or flowers; developing or opening in succession from apex to base