describe the ls of flower with a neat label diagram

Flowers are the reproductive parts of plants, which take part in the process of sexual reproduction. Before we study sexual reproduction in detail, let us first study a dissected flower to identify the male and female reproductive parts present in it.

Take a gulmohur flower. Hold it at the peduncle and cut the flower in half with a scalpel. A blade or a knife can also be used.

Observe how various parts are attached to the flower. Separate the individual parts using forceps and carefully lay them on a Petri plate.

Now, count the number of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpel.

Can you identify the various parts of a flower? Let us understand the structure of flowers.

All plants that belong to angiosperms are called flowering plants. Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants. A typical flower has four parts – sepals, petals, stamens, and carpel /pistils.

• Sepals: They are leaf-like structures, which are generally green in colour. They protect the flower bud prior to its opening. The sepals of a flower are called calyx. It is the outermost whorl of the flower.

• Petals: They are colourful structures of various shapes. They attract pollinators and protect the reproductive organs of a flower. The petals are collectively called corolla.

• Stamens: They are the male reproductive parts of a flower. The stamen consists of an anther and the filament. The anther is a sac-like structure, which produces and contains pollen grains. The filament is a thin stalk that supports the anther.

Stamens in a flower are collectively called androecium.

• Carpel: They are the female reproductive parts of a flower, containing an ovary, stigma, and style.

The stigma is a sticky surface where the pollen lands and later germinates.

The style is a tube-like structure, within which the pollen tube grows.

The ovary is the basal portion that contains the ovules, which form seeds after fertilization.

A complete flower has all four parts. Incomplete flowers lack one or more main parts. On the basis of the presence or absence of the reproductive parts, incomplete flowers can be of two types- Bisexual and Unisexual.

• Bisexual flowers: If both the stamen and carpel are present in a flower, then it is called a bisexual flower. Lily, rose, hibiscus, gulmohur(Delonix regia), etc. are some examples of bisexual flowers. A bisexual flower may or may not have sepals or petals.

• Unisexual flowers: If either the stamen or carpel is present in a flower, then it is called a unisexual flower. Corn, marijuana, papaya, etc. are some examples of unisexual flowers.