Sessile: A flower without a stalk. Example-Achyranthes
Pedicellate: A flower with a stalk or pedicel. Example-china rose
Complete: A flower in which all the four whorls are present. Example-cotton.
Incomplete: A flower in which any one of the four whorl is absent. Example-Cucurbita
Bract: A flower with a leaf like structure at its base.
Bracteate: Flower having Bract.
Ebracteate: Flower without Bract.
Bracteole: leaf like structure present on any part of floral stalk or pedicel.
Bracteolate: Flower with barcteolates.
Unisexual: A flower having either stamen or carpels.If only stamens are present it is said to be staminate and if only carpels are present it is said to be pistillate.
Neuter: Reproductive parts i.e., stamens and carpels absent.
Monoecious: Both reproductive parts found on the same plant.
Dioecious: Only one reproductive part is present on one plant.
Polygamous: If bisexual, unisexual and neutral flowers occur on the same plant.
Achlamydous: Both calyx and corolla absent.
Bisexual: A flower having both stamens and carpels. Example-Mustard
Isomerous: A flower is isomerous when its whorls have equal number of parts or number is one whorl is multiple of the number of other whorl.
Bimerous: A flower in which the number of parts in each whorl is 2 or it’s multiple.
Trimerous: A flower in which the number of parts in each whorl is 3 or it’s multiple. Example- in most monocots.
Tetramerous: A flower in which the number of parts in each whorl is 4 or it’s multiple.
Pentamerous: A flower in which the number of parts in each whorl is 5 or it’s multiple. Example- in most dicots.
Heteromerous: A flower is called heteromerous only when the member in all the whorl is neither the nor any multiple.
Hypogynous: a flower in which the ovary occupies the highest position or is superior and the other floral parts are present below it. Example- Mustard.
Perigynous: A flower in which thalamus grows upwards and bear sepals, petals and stamens on its rim. The ovary is half superior. Example-Rose
Epigynous: All floral whorls i.e. sepals, petals and stamens arise above ovary, making ovary inferior. Example-apple.
Gynophore: - The portion of the thalamus which bears gynoecium is called gynophore.
Pistil: - The collective terms of Ovary, Style and Stigma.
Ovule: - Inside the ovary there is minute structure is present which develops into seeds after fertilization is known as Ovule.
Placentae: -The parenchymatous cushion shaped structure which bear ovule is known as Placentae.
Monocarpellary: -The pistil which is composed of only one carpel is known as Monocarpellary. E.g.:- Pea
Bicarpellary: - The pistil which is composed of two carpels is known as Bicarpellary. E.g.:- Brassica
Tricarpellary: - The pistil which is composed of three carpels is known as Tricarpellary. E.g.:- Liliaceae
Tetracarpellary: - The pistil which is composed of four carpels is known as Tetracarpellary.
Pentacarpellary: - The pistil which is composed of five carpels is known as Pentacarpellary.
Polycarpellary/Multicarpellary:- The pistil which is composed of many carpels is known as Polycarpellary/Multicarpellary. E.g.:- Rose, Papaver.
Apocarpous: - The carpels are free. E.g.:- Ranunculus.Syncarpous: - The carpels are wholly partially united. E.g.:- Mustard.
Dithecous: - Anther with two loculus.
Monothecous: - The anther which has only one locule (in some case).
Androphore: - Androecium bearing stalk.
Staminode: - A rudimentary stamens which does not bear fertile pollen grains is known as Staminode. E.g:-Stellaria.
Polyandrous:-Androecium which consists of free stamens is known as Polyandrous. E.g:-Poppy, papaver.
Monadelphous: - With free anthers the filaments of stamens which are united into a single handle or tube is known as Monadelphous. E.g:- China rose.
Diadelphous: - With free anthers the filaments of stamens which are fused together to form two bundles is known as Diadelphous. E.g:-Pea.
Polyadelphous: - With free anthers the filaments of stamens which are united to form a number of bundles is known as Polyadelphous. E.g:- Citrus.
Syngenesious: - Stamens untied by their anther but the filaments are free is known as Syngenesious. E.g:- Sonchus, sunflower.
Synandrous: - Stamens united throughout their whole length (anther and filament). E.g:-Cucurbita.
Epipetalous: - Stamens more or less fused with petals and appearing to originate from them. E.g:- Ocimum, Solanum.
Epitepalous: - Stamens bore on the tepals. E.g:- Asphodelus.
Gynandrous: - Stamens fused with the carpels. E.g:- Calotropis.
Inserted: - Stamens shorter than corolla tube. E.g:- Ixora.
Exerted: - Stamens longer than corolla tube projecting beyond the petals. E.g:- Passion flower.
Basifixed: - Filament attached to the base of the anther. E.g:- Mustard.
Dorsifixed: - Filament attached to the dorsal side of the anther. E.g:- Bauhinia.
Adnate: - Filament attached to the anther throughout its length. E.g:-Michelia.
Versatile: - Filament attached to the back of the anther at a point only. E.g:- Grasses.
Introse: - Anther facing inward. E.g: - Hibiscus, Dianthus, solanum.
Extrose: - Anther facing outward from the center of the flower. E.g:- Argemone.
Just inner to the Calyx the second whorl of the flower is known as Corolla and it is made up of Petals. Petal is one of the individual floral leaves of Corolla. Petals are usually brightly coloured and showy so, the petals helps flower in pollination by attracting insects. The free Petals are known as Polypetalous(e.g:-Brassica) and the fused petals are known as gamopetalous(Ipomoea).
Shape of the Corolla
Some of the form of the corolla are as follows:
(a) Polypetalous Corolla
1. Cruciform:- The Corolla consists of four or five petals arranged in the from of cross(x).Each petal has a expanded limb and a narrow stalk below called claw.e.g:-Brassica
2. Caryophyllaceou:- It consists of five free petals each with a comparatively long claw, and the limbs. The Claw and Limb lie more or less at right angle to each other and spread outward.e.g:-Dianthus.
3. Rosaceous:- The Corolla consists of five or more free petals, spreading regularly outwards like those of rose.e.g:-Rosaceae.
4. Papilionaceous:- It consists of five unequal free petals, one large posterior standard, two lateral wings and two innermost smallest united keels.e.g:-pea, gram etc.
(b) Gamopetalous Corolla
1. Tubular:-In this case petals are fused to form a tube or cylinder like structure.e.g:- central florets of sunflower.
2. Campanulate:- In this case petals are fused to each other to form bell shaped structure.e.g:-Ipomoea, Cuscuta.
3. Infundibuliform:- In this case petals are fused to each other to form funnel shaped structure.e.g:-Datura, Petunia.
4. Rotate:- In this case petals are fused to each other to form Wheel shaped structure.e.g:- Brinjal, Nerium, Solanum.
5. Ligulate(Strap-shaped):- A zygomorphic, gamopetalous, strap-shaped corolla with a short narrow tube below and flattened strap-like upper portion.e.g:-Sunflower, Sonchus.
6. Urceolate:- In this case petals are fused to each other to form Urn-shaped structure.e.g:-Bryophyllum.
Bilabiate:- A zygomorphic, gamopetalous corolla which is divided into two unequal lips the upper lips and lower lips.e.g:-Ocimum.
Personate:- Bilabiate(A zygomorphic, gamopetalous corolla which is divided into two unequal lips the upper lips and lower lips) Corolla with narrow opening due to two lips which are to one another.e.g:-Antirrhinum.
The outermost whorl of the flower which is made up of sepals is known as Calyx.A leaf like division usually green in colour and individual member of the calax is known as sepal.
Sepaloid:like a sepal;green in colour
Petaloid:like a petal;coloured
According to the depth of the divisions,calyx is of four types:
1. Toothed: Divisions very small.
2. fid: Divisions reach up to the depth.
3. Partate: Divisions reaching up to half.
4. Connate: Fused at the base.
The calax may be made up of free and united sepals.The free sepals are known as Polysepalous,whereas the united sepals are known as gamosepalous.Depending upon the shape, gamosepalous calyx is of following types:
Campanulate(Shaped like a bell e.g:-petunia)
Cupulate(Shaped like a Club e.g:-Gossypium)
Globose(Swollen like a globe e.g:-Physalis)
Tubular(tube shaped e.g:-Verbena)
Pappus(Modified into hairy structures e.g:-Sonchus)
Infundibuliform(shaped like a funnel e.g:-Atropa)
Bilabiate(Two-lipped e.g:-Salvia)
Spurred(With a long beak or spur e.g:-larkspur)
Spinous(Sepals are spinus e.g:-Trapa)
Caducous(Fall down immediately after opening of flowers. e.g:-Argemone, Papaver)
Persistent(Remaining attached till maturation. e.g:-Solanum nigrum)
Deciduous(The sepals fall of along with the petals at maturity after fertilization. e.g:-Brassica campestris)
1. CaLyx: It constitutes the outermost whorl and consists of sepals.Sepals may be green or coloured. It is protective in the bud condition.
2. Corolla: It is the second Whorl of the flower which is composed of petals.Usually it is thin, brightly coloured, scented with nectaries glands to attract the insects for cross-pollination.
3. Androceium: It represents the male reproductive whorl of the flower. It comprises stamens. Each stamen has usually a filament, anther and connective. Each anther consists of two lobes. Each lobe further consists of two chambers, which are called the pollen-sacs. thus, there are four pollen sacs in each anther. Each pollen sac produces a large number of pollen grains.The pollen grains are the male gamets.
4. Gynoecium: Gynoecium is the innermost whorl of the flower and comprises the female organs called carpels. Each gynoecium or pistil consists of the three parts: ovary, style and stigma. The swollen basal part of the pistil is called ovary.The ovary may have one or more locules. Each locule is provided with one or more ovules on placentae. On maturity after fertilization ovary develops into fruits and ovules develops into seeds. Above the ovary the carpel is protuded into a long or short style. The style ends with a round, sticky stigma. During pollination, the pollen grains are deposited on the stigma.
