GroveStudies Production:
Flower
Flowers are the reproductive part of a plant. They are not only involved in reproduction but are also a source of food for other living organisms. They are a rich source of nectar.
Flowers can either be
Complete
Incomplete.
A complete flower is one that consists of sepals, petals, stamens and pistils. On the contrary, an incomplete flower is one that lacks one or more of these structures.
A complete flower consists of two different parts:
Vegetative Part
Reproductive Part
Parts of a Flower
The different parts of a flower are mentioned below:
Vegetative Parts of a Flower
The vegetative part of a flower consists of the following:
Petals:
This is a bright-coloured part that attracts bees, insects, and birds. The colour of petals varies from plant to plant; some are bright while some are pale coloured. Thus, petals help us to differentiate one flower from another.
Sepals:
Reproductive Parts of a Flower
Flowers contain the plant’s reproductive structures
In different plants, the number of petals, sepals, stamens and pistils can vary. The presence of these parts differentiates the flower into complete or incomplete. Apart from these parts, a flower includes reproductive parts – the stamen and pistil. A flower may have only female parts, only male parts, or both.
The reproductive parts of a flower consist of the following:
Stamen:
This is the male reproductive organ and is also known as Androecium. It consists of two parts namely: anther and filaments.
The anther is a yellowish, sac-like structure, involved in producing and storing the pollens.
The filament is a slender, threadlike object, which functions by supporting the anther.
Pistil:
This is the innermost part and the female reproductive organ of a flower which comprises three parts -stigma, style and ovary. This is collectively known as the pistil.
Stigma:
It is the topmost part or receptive tip of carpels in the gynoecium of a flower.
Style:
It is the long tube-like slender stalk that connects the stigma and the ovary.
Ovary:
It is the ductless reproductive gland that holds a lot of ovules. It is the part of the plant where the seed formation takes place.
Functions of a Flower :-
The important functions of flowers are mentioned below:
Gametophytes develop in the flowers.
The flowers can produce diaspores without fertilization.
After fertilization, the ovary of the flower develops into a fruit containing a seed.
The most important function of flowers is reproduction. They help in the union of male and female gametes.
Flowers provide nectar to certain birds and insects, which in turn help in the transfer of pollen from one flower to the other.
Flowers may promote selfing, i.e., the union of sperms and eggs from the same flower, or cross-fertilization, i.e., the union of sperms and eggs from different flowers.
Pollination
Pollination is the process in which the pollens are transferred from anther to stigma. The process of pollination can occur through a different medium.
The table mentioned below describes the different types of pollination along with their pollinating agents.
Pollination Process Pollination Medium
Malacophilous By snails
Chiropteriphilous By bats
Hydrophilous By water
Zoophilous By animals
Anemophilous By air
Entomophilous By insects
Ornithophilous By birds
