Flowers are an essential part of almost any plant hoping to reproduce. There are many parts to flowers, each one playing an important part in its continuation.
- The Ovary is the part of the pistil that holds the ovule.
- Inferior ovaries are when the petals and sepals are above the ovary.
- Superior ovaries are when the petals and sepals are below the ovary.
- Sepals are the outermost leaves of a flower, usually formed for protection for the flower.
- Stamen are the part of the flower that produce pollen, the ‘male’ component of the flower’s reproductive system. They are made up of an anther (containing microspores) and a filament/stalk that holds up the stamen.
- Pistils are the main reproductive ‘female’ organ of the flower. Centrally located, the number of pistils can determine the type of flower family.
- Perfect flowers are flowers that have the ability to self-pollinate, due to having both female and male organs
- Imperfect flowers are flowers that either have pistils or stamen, but not both, and therefore cannot reproduce on their own.
- Radial symmetry is present in a stereotypical flower, when petals of equal size surround a central point in the middle of the flower, with symmetry at every angle.
- Bilateral symmetry is present in things like Rorschach paintings, with both sides having equal parts and dimensions.
- Irregular petals are petals that appear to have no symmetry at all.
Flower family characterization
Different flower families have different biological makeups.