Flower
Table of Content |
- It can be defined as modified dwarf shoot which is meant for sexual reproduction.
- It is a specialized and condensed shoot that takes part in sexual reproduction.
- A flower has a broad surface called thallamus or torus.
- It is characteristics feature of angiosperm reproductive organs have been aggregated as flowers.
Parts of a Typical Flower
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It comprises a stalk called pedicel which arises in the axis of leaves called bracts.
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Upon the pedicel there may be one to many small scaly structures called bracteoles.
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The terminal part of the pedicel is the thalamus or torus.
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It is a modified and condensed axis of the flower.
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Modified leaves called floral leaves or floral parts arises from the nodes of the thalamus as successive whorls.
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A typical flower of an angiosperm consists of four types of floral parts namely calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium.
(i) Calyx : It is the outermost whorl composed of sepals.
(ii) Corolla : It is composed of petals and is the second whorl.
(iii) Androecium : It is the third whorl composed of stamens.
(iv) Gyneocium : It is the innermost whorl and is also called pistil. It shows carpels.
General Description of a Flower
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The flowers are termed pedicellate if they possess stalks and sessile if they lack them.
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The flower may be described as complete if it bears all the floral parts and incomplete, when one or more floral parts are absent.
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Flowers are called bisexual if they bear both androecium and gynoecium.
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The unisexual flowers have either androecium or gynoecium.
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The unisexual flowers may be male flowers or female flowers.
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The male flower are also called staminate flowers as they have stamens only.
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The female flowers have only the carpels and hence called pistillate flowers.
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Flowers with sterile sex organs are described as neutral flowers.
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According to the distribution of male, female and bisexual flowers, various pattern are recognized.
(i) Monoecious : Presence of male and female flowers on the same plant, e.g., Acalypha, Cocos and Ricinus.
(ii) Dioecious : Presence of male and female flowers on different plants, namely, male plants and female plants. e.g., Cycas, Carica papaya and Vallisneria.
(iii) Polygamous : Presence of unisexual and bisexual flowers on the same plant, e.g., Mangifera and Polygonum.
Symmetry of Flower
- The number, shape, size and arrangement of floral organs in a flower determines its symmetry.
- On the basis of symmetry flowers can be of the following types :
(i) Actinomorphic (Regular = Symmetrical) : Actinomorphic flowers can be divided (passing through center) by any vertical plane in to two equal and similar halves. e.g., Mustard, Brinjal, Catharanthus roseus.
(ii) Zygomorphic (Monosymmetrical) : Zygomorphic flowers can be divide into two equal halves by only one verticle division e.g., Pea, Larkspur, Ocimum.
(iii) Asymmetrical (Irregular) : Asymmetrical flowers can not be divided into two equal halves by any vertical division. e.g., Canna, Orchids.
Arrangement of Floral Organs
On the basis of arrangement of floral organs, three types of flowers are recognized. They are:
(i) Acyclic : Here the thalamus is conical or convex and the floral parts are spirally arranged, e.g., water lily and Magnolia.
(ii) Cyclic : Here the floral organs are arranged in regular whorls at the nodes of the thalamus, e.g., Hibiscus and Datura.
(iii) Hemicyclic (Spirocyclic) : Here some floral parts (sepals and petals) are arranged in regular whorls and the remaining parts (stamens and carpels) are arranged spirally. e.g., Annona and Polyalthia.
Number of floral parts in whorl is called the merosity. There are two kinds of flowers based on the merosity of the flower. They are isomerous flowers and anisomerous flowers.
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If the number of sepals, petals, stamens and carpels of flower is equal, such flowers are called isomerous flowers.
- Dimerous : Two floral parts in each whorl.
- Trimerous : Three floral parts in each whorl.
- Tetramerous : Four floral parts in each whorl.
- Pentamerous : Five floral parts in each whorl.
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A flower with different number of floral parts in each whorl is called anisomerous flower. The sepals, petals, stamens and carpels present at different whorls of a flower vary in their numbers. These are also called heteromerous flowers.
Detailed Structure of Flower
Angiospermic flowers exhibit many variations in their external morphological characters. Detailed description of a flower helps in its proper identification.
Bract
Bract (hypsophyll) is a small leaf like structure on the peduncle which produces a flower in its axil. The floral buds are usually protected by the bracts. Flower with a bract is described as bracteate and the flower without a bract is known as ebracteate.
Bracteoles are small scale like structures present on the pedicel. Bracts are modified into following structures:
(a) Foliaceous bract : Leaf like, expanded green bract is called the foliaceous bract, e.g., Pisum, Lathyrus, Adathoda and Gynandropsis.
(b) Spathe : A large modified bract which encloses spadix inflorescence totally or partially. It may be leathery or woody, e.g., Alocasia, Cocoa, Musa and Typhonium.
(c) Petaloid bract : Brightly coloured petal like bract is known as petaloid bract, e.g., Bougainvillea, Poinsettia and Euphorbia.
(d) Involucre : One or two whorls of green bracts that protect young inflorescence is called involucre, e.g., Coriandrum, Tagetes and Heracleum.
(e) Epicalyx : Whorl of bracteoles present below the calyx or outside the calyx, e.g., Hibiscus rosa sinensis and Malvaviscus arborcus.
(f) Scaly bracts : Reduced, membranous, scale like bracts seen in head inflorescence, e.g., florets in Tridax and Helianthus.
(g) Glumes : The bracts found on the rachilla of spikelet are called glumes. They may be sterile glumes or fertile glumes (lemma), e.g., Oryza sativa.
Thalamus
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The terminal part of the pedicel is called thalamus or torus or receptacle. It is a condensed axis of the flower from which all floral parts arise. Depending upon the position of gynoecium on the thalamus with respect to other parts, flowers are of three kinds – hypogynous, perigynous and epigynous (See details in Embryology Module-II).
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In many flowers, the thalamus is condensed and the internodes are not seen clearly. But there are some flowers with elongated, distinct floral internodes as mentioned below :
(a) Anthophore : This is the first elongated internode between the calyx and corolla, e.g., Silene, Pennsylvania and Lychnis.
(b) Androphore : It is the second elongated internode between corolla and androecium, e.g., Gynandropsis.
(c) Gynophore : It is the third elongated internode between androecium and gynoecium e.g., Capparis and Gynandropsis.
(d) Gynandrophore : It is an elongated stalk like part between non essential and essential organs of the flower. It is equivalent to androphore, e.g., Passiflora.
(e) Carpophore : This is a stalk like connection present between two carpels. It is formed due to expansion of the thalamus between the carpels, e.g., Coriandrum and Foeniculum.
Perianth
The non essential organs, calyx and corolla are together called perianth. The perianth protects the stamens and carpels. In angiospermic flowers, the perianth exists in different forms.
(a) Achlamydeous : Perianth is absent and the flowers appear naked. Mostly the achlamydeous flowers occur in cyathium inflorescence. e.g., Euphorbia, Poinsettia.
(b) Chlamydeous : Perianth is present and the flowers usually appear attractive. The chlamydeous flowers are of two types. They are :
Calyx
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It is the outermost whorl of the flower.
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It consist of sepals. Usually, the sepals are small and green.
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They protect other floral organs when the flower is in bud condition.
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The calyx is described as polysepalous when the sepals are free (e.g., Anona, Tomato) and gamosepalous when the sepals are united (e.g., Datura and Hibiscus).
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If sepals are fused less than half of the length of calyx tube it is called as partite and if the fusion of sepals is very little, just at the base of calyx tube, it is said to be connate.
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The sepals may be deciduous or persistent. Usually the persistent calyx doesn’t show any growth after fertilization. Such a calyx is termed as marcescent (e.g., Brinjal, Chillis).
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Sometimes the persistent calyx shows continuous growth even after, fertilization. This type of calyx called acrescent (e.g., Physalis and Shorea).
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In some plants a whorl of green sepals like structure is present at the base of calyx called epicalyx.
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Epicalyx is considered a whorl of the bracteoles and mostly found in the flowers of family Malvaceae (Althaea, Cotton).
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The calyx may show number of modifications. They are :
(a) Campanulate : Bell shaped, e.g., Althaea.
(b) Cupulate : Cup like, e.g., Gossypium.
(c) Urceolate : Urn shaped, e.g., Hyoscyamus.
(d) Infundibuliform : Funnel shaped, e.g., Atropa belladona.
(e) Tubular : Calyx tube like, e.g., Datura.
(f) Bilabiate : Calyx forms two lips, e.g., Ocimum.
(g) Spurred : One or two sepals forming a beak like structure, e.g., Larkspur.
(h) Pappus : Calyx are modified into hairs e.g., Sonchus, Tridax (Asteraceae).
(i) Spinous : When calyx forms spines, e.g., Trapa.
(j) Hooded : When sepals enlarged to form a hood over the flower, e.g., Aconitum.
(k) Petaloid : Enlarged and brightly coloured sepals, e.g., Clerodendron, Mussaenda, Sterculia, Caesalpinia and Saraca.
Corolla 
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It is the second whorl of the flower consisting of petals.
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Usually the petals are brightly coloured and scented.
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They attract the insects which act as agents for pollination.
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The corolla may be polypetalous (with free petals), gamopetalous (with united petals) or apetalous (without petals).
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The corolla may undergo modifications or possess some special appendages.
Forms of Corolla
Both polypetalous and gamopetalous corolla exhibit great variation in their forms. It is following types :
(a) Polypetalous corolla : They are of following types :
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Cruciform : Four free clawed petals arranged in the form of a cross, e.g., Mustard and Radish.
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Rosaceous : Five free sessile petals withlobes spreading outwards, e.g., Rose, Hibiscus.
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Caryophyllaceous : Five free clawed petals with limbs at right angles to the claw, e.g., Dianthus.
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Papillionaceous : Five free unequal petal arranged in definite fashion. The posterior petal is largest and is called standard vexillum. On either side of the standard, two lateral petals unite called wings are present. The remaining two anterior petals to form a boat shaped structure called the keel. e.g., plants of papillionaceae.
(b) Gamopetalous corolla : They are of following types :
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Tubular : Five united petals form a cylindrical tubular structure, e.g., disc florets of Asteraceae.
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Infundibuliform : It is a funnel shaped corolla, e.g., Datura.
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Companulate : It is bell shaped corolla, e.g., Thevetia.
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Rotate : Short tubular corolla with spread out lobes appearing like a wheel e.g., Brinjal.
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Hypocrateriform : It is a salver shaped corolla. It is provided with a elongated narrow tube having lobes at the top placed at right angles, e.g., Vinca.
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Ligulate : Corolla with a short tube which is drawn out into a tongue shaped structure e.g., ray florets of Asteraceae.
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Bilabiate : The irregular corolla is united, in such a way that it appears two lipped. It is the characteristic corolla of labiatae, e.g., Leucas.
Aestivation
The arrangement of sepals and petals in bud condition of the flower is called “aestivation”. It is may be of following types :
(a) Open : If the margins of perianth members in a whorl are free with wide gap between them, then the type of aestivation is called ‘open’, e.g., sepals of Mustard.
(b) Valvate : Here the edges of perianth members in a whorl are very nearly touching each other bud do not overlap, e.g., calyx and corolla in Annona.
(c) Twisted : In this type, the perianth members of a whorl show one edge outside and one edge inside. Thus they regularly overlap the neighbouring members on one side. The twisted aestivation is also called contorted or convolute aestivation, e.g., corolla of Hibiscus.
(d) Imbricate : Here in a whorl of perianth members, one is completely inside and another is completely outside. The remaining perianth members show one edge inside and the other edge outside. The imbricate aestivation is of two types, namely, descending imbricate and ascending imbricate.
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Descending imbricate : Here the odd petal is posterior and completely outside. The anterior pair of petals are completely inside. The remaining petals show regular overlapping in the descending manner. It is also called vexillary aestivation, e.g., Tephrosia, Crotalaria and Dolichos.
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Ascending imbricate : Here the odd petal is posterior and completely inside. One of the anterior petals is completely outside. The remaining petals show regular overlapping in ascending manner, e.g., Cassia and Delonix.
Quincuncial
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In this type, out of the five perianth members in a whorl two are completely outside, two are completely inside and the remaining has one edge outside and one-edge inside.
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This is confined to pentamerous flowers only, e.g., sepals of Ipomoea, Vinca and Thevetia.
Androecium
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It is the third whorl of a flower consisting of stamens or microsporophylls.
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Fertile stamens produce pollen grains.
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Staminodes are the sterile stamens.
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Petaloid stamens are brightly coloured and appear like petals, e.g., Canna.
(a) Structure of stamen : A stamen shows a long or short stalk called the filament. The filament ends with a terminal fertile part known as the anther. It encloses microsporangia within which microspores or pollen grains are produced. The filament of the stamen is connected to the anther by means of a “connective”. The anther may be monothecous or dithecous. The monothecous anther has only one sac. It is bilocular or bisporangiate, e.g., Hibiscus. The dithecous anther consists of two sacs and is tetralocular or tetrasporangiate in as Datura.
When the face of anther is towards centre of flower it is called introrse e.g., tomato when it is towards the periphery it is called extrorse e.g., Ranunculus.
(b) Fixation : The mode of attachment of a filament to anther by connective is called fixation. It is of following types :
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Adnate : Filament attached to the total length of the anther on the back. e.g., Michelia (Campa).
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Basifixed : Filament is attached to the base of the anther e.g., Datura, Mustard, Radish.
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Dorsifixed : Filament is attached to the anther on the dorsal side at middle portion e.g., Passiflora.
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Versatile : Filament is attached to the anther at a point so that anther can swing freely in all direction. e.g., Grasses.
(c) Length of stamens : Based on the relative lengths of the stamens, the conditions of androecium varies:
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Didynamous : When there are four stamens in a flower of which two are long and two are short, the condition is described as didynamous, e.g., Ocimum.
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Tetradynamous : Out of the six stamens that are found in a flower, four stamens are long and the two are short. This condition is called tetradynamous, e.g., Raphanus and Brassica.
(d) Insertion of stamens : Based on the insertion of stamens, the condition of androecium varies :
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Isostemonous : When the stamen form a single whole and the number of stamen is the same as that of sepals and petals, the flower is isostemonous.
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Diplostemonous : Sometimes there are two whorls of stamens. The first whorl alternating with petals (antisepalous) and the second whorl alternating with sepals (antipetalous).
Question 1: Tetradynamous condition is related to
(a) Androecium
(b) Inflorescence
(c) Perianth
(d) Gynoecium
Question 2: In monadelphous condition, stamens have
(a) Filaments of all united in one group but anthers are free
(b) Filaments united in groups but all anthers are free
(c) Anthers are fused but filaments are free
(d) Both anthers and filaments are fused
Question 3: Stamens attached to petals are
(a) Antipetalous
(b) Epipetalous
(c) Epiphyllous
(d) Episepalous
Question 4: Arrangement of sepals and petals with respect to each other is
(a) Venation
(b) Vernation
(c) Aestivation
(d) Phyllotaxy
Question 5: Pappus is characteristic of family
(a) Asteraceae/Compositae
(b) Papaveraceae
(c) Papilionaceae/Fabaceae
(d) Malvaceae
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