Flower - Introduction

Description:

The flower is a highly modified shoot meant essentially for the sexual reproduction.

A flower has a stalk which exposes the flower in favourable position for pollination. This stalk is called pedicle. The flowers having a pedicel are called as pedicellate flowers.

A flower has four different whorls calyx (sepals), corolla (petals), androecium (stamen) and gynoecium (pistil).

Calyx and corolla are accessory organs while androecium and gynoecium are reproductive organs and called essential organs.

In some flowers the calyx and corolla are not distinct and are termed perianth.

Flowers which have both androecium and gynoecium are called bisexual flowers. Flowers which have either stamen or carpel are called unisexual flowers.

Flowers may be trimerous, tetramerous or pentamerous based on the presence of floral appendages in multiples of 3, 4 and 5 respectively.

Flowers with bracts which are reduced leaf found at the base of the pedicle are called bracteate flowers. Flowers without bracts are called ebracteate flowers.