Parts of Flower: Structure, Diagram, Functions, Examples

Flowers are the reproductive parts of a plant. The parts of flower consist of four different kinds of whorls on the thalamus such as calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium. Calyx and corolla are accessory organs whereas, androecium and gynoecium are reproductive organs. Flowers are not only used for reproduction but also are a source of food for insects and birds which they feed on them for the nectar.

Flowers can produce diaspores without fertilisation. And, pollination is one of the processes which is carried out by flower in which pollens are transferred from anthers to the stigma. Students can check NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 7 for better understanding. We have provided detailed information on parts of flowers in this article. Read on to find out about the descriptions of the parts of a flower and their functions.

Parts of Flower: Description

The flower is the reproductive part of the plant. They are found in flowering plants. The main function of flowers is to reproduce by the process of pollination. There are two types of pollination i.e., self-pollination and cross-pollination. Self-pollination occurs when pollen from the anther is deposited in the stigma of the same flower. Whereas, cross-pollination occurs when there is the transfer of pollen from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower. Few flowers can produce diaspores without fertilisation.

The parts of a flower can be classified into two types; vegetative and reproductive. Apart from this, there are four whorls that are important and responsible for the arrangement of plants such as calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium. When the flower has both androecium and gynoecium, then it is referred to as bisexual. And, if the flower has either stamen or carpels, it is referred to as unisexual. Let us discuss the parts of the flower in detail.

Vegetative Part of Flower

The vegetative parts of the flower are mentioned below:

Petals: These are coloured part of the flower which attracts other living things. The petals are found in a variety of colours and patterns. This is helpful in differentiating the flower.

Sepal: It is a part of the flower which is found beneath the petals. These are the green-coloured part that protects the growing buds.

Reproductive Part of Flower

Apart from petals and sepals which are vegetative parts of the flower, there are also reproductive parts as mentioned below:

Stamen: It is also known as androecium and is the male reproductive part of the flower. It comprises anthers and filaments. The anthers are the yellow sac-like structure that produces pollen.

Pistil: This is the female reproductive part of a flower. It comprises stigma, style and ovary.

1. Stigma is found on the tip of the carpels.
2. Style is a stalk that connects stigma and ovary.
3. Ovary is a enlarged basal part of the flower which holds ovules.

Whorls

The flower consists of four different kinds of whorls on the thalamus such as calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium. Let us check the detailed information on whorls as mentioned below:

Calyx: The calyx is the outermost part of the whorl called sepals. The sepals protect the flower from damage. They are green leaf-like structures found at the base of the flower. The main function of the calyx is to protect the flower from any kind of desiccation. If the sepals are, it is called polysepalous and if they are united it is termed as gamosepalous. The sepals that fall off before the flower opens are called caducous and the ones that fall off after the fertilization are termed deciduous.

Corolla: It is composed of petals. They are coloured and attracts insects for pollination. Also, it protects the reproductive part of the flower. Like calyx, corolla can also be gamopetalous (petals are united) and polypetalous (petals are). Corolla is tubular, bell or funnel-shaped.

Androecium: It is composed of stamens. The male reproductive part consists of a stalk or a filament and the anther. Each anther is bilobed and each lobe has two chambers consisting of pollen sacs. The pollens are produced in these sacs.

Gynoecium: This is the female reproductive part of the flower. It is made up of one or more carpel. It is composed of stigma, style and ovary. The ovary is an enlarged basal part, stigma is the receptive surface for pollen and the style connects the ovary to the stigma. Each ovary has a placenta that consists of one or more ovules. When carpels are, they are termed apocarpous and when they are fused, it is termed syncarpous.

Functions of Flower

Some of the important functions of flowers are mentioned below:

1. Flowers produces diaspores without fertilization.
2. It conducts pollination which is a process of transfer of pollen from anther to stigma.
3. Flowers are used for decorative and beautification purposes.
4. Flowers provide nectar to other living things such as insects, birds, bees, etc.
5. The main function of flower is reproduction which helps in the union of male and female gametes.

FAQs

The frequently asked questions on parts of a flower are given below:

Q. What is a flower?
A. Flower is the reproductive part of a plant.

Q. What is the function of a flower?
A. The primary function of flowers is reproduction. It also provides nectar to insects and birds.

Q. What are the parts of flowers?
A. The parts of the flower consists of petals, sepals, stamens and pistils.

Q. How do flowers reproduce?
A. The flowers reproduce by the process of pollination where there is a transfer of pollen from anthers to stigma.

We have now provided you with a detailed article on parts of flowers in this article. Make sure that you utilize this information and the solutions provided here in the best possible way. Have a clear understanding of the concepts and then try to answer the questions from your textbook.

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