Flower Characteristics

AGR 161

Objectives

The students will be able to:

•Label the parts of the flower.

•Identify each parts function.

•Recognize the different inflorescence types.

Flowers Flowers are produced primarily for

their commercial purposes

Flowers come in various shapes, sizes and colors

Flowers are used for reproduction

Parts of the Flower

Sepals

Green leaf-like structures beneath the petals.

Calyx is made up of all the sepals on one flower

Petals

Usually brightly colored

Primarily used to attract pollinators

Collectively petals are referred to as calyx

Stamens

The male reproductive part of the flower is the stamens

2 parts Anther and Filament

Pistils

The female reproductive parts of the flower

3 parts Stigma, Style, and Ovary

Ovary contains ovules or eggs

Inflorescence

Inflorescence is the arrangement of flowers on a stem.

Some flowers are clustered at the tip of the stem, while other are likes spikes

Types of Inflorescence

Cyme Spike Raceme Panicle Corymb

Umbel Spadix Catkin Head

Cyme

Usually a flat topped inflorescence

Baby’s Breath

Spike An elongated

inflorescence with a central axis.

Flowers are attached to the inflorescence without a stem or stalkLiatris

Raceme

Elongated inflorescence with central axis.

Pedicels are more or less of equal length

Snapdragon

Panicle Elongated

inflorescence

Along the central axis there are branches that are themselves branched

Astilbe

Corymb

Flat topped inflorescence

Mainly a vertical axis with branches of unequal length

Yarrow

Umbel

Inflorescence having several branches arising from a common point

Queen Anne’s Lace

Spandix

Spike with a thickened, fleshy axis

Anthurium

Catkin Catkin is a spike,

raceme, or cyme

Composed of unisexual flowers without petals

Falling as a unit

Willow Tree

Head

Rounded or flat-topped cluster of sessile flowers

Type of Chrysanthemum

REVIEW

REVIEW

SpadixCalla Lily

CatkinWillow Tree

CymeBaby’s Breath

SpikeLiatris

UmbelQueen Anne’s Lace

PanicleAstible??

HeadSpider Mum

RacemeDelphinium

Corymb

Yarrow