A flower is the reproductive organ of those plants classified as angiosperms (flowering plants; Division Magnoliophyta). The function of a flower is to produce seeds through sexual reproduction. For the higher plants, seeds are the next generation, and serve as the primary means by which individuals of the species are dispersed across the landscape. After fertilization, a flower develops into a fruit containing the seed(s).
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2 Flower function 3 Flowers in the Arts 4 References and External links |
A flower is a modified stem with shortened internodes and bearing, at its nodes, structures that may be highly modified leaves. In essence, a flower structure forms on a modified shoot with an apical meristem that does not grow continuously. The stem is called a pedicel, the end of which is the torus or receptacle. The parts of a flower are arranged in whorls on the torus. The four main parts (starting from the base of the flower or lowest node and working upwards) are as follows:
In the majority of species, individual flowers have both pistils and stamens as described above. However, some species of plants produce separate male (containing the stamens) and female (containing the pistil) flowers. In some of these species, an individual plant is either male or female and the species is regarded as dioecious; in others, male and female flowers appear on the same plant and then the species is termed monoecious. Some flowers with both stamens and a pistil are capable of self-fertilization, which increases the chance of producing seeds but limits genetic variation. The extreme case of this occurs in flowers that always self-fertilize, such as the common dandelion. Conversely, some species of plants have ways of preventing self-fertilization. Male and female flowers on the same plant may not appear at the same time, or pollen from the same plant may be incapable of fertilizing its ovules. The latter flower types, which have chemical barriers to their own pollen, are referred to as self-sterile or self-incompatible.
Additional discussions on floral modifications from the basic plan are presented in the articles on each of the basic parts of the flower. In those species that have more than one flower on an axis, the collection of flowers is termed an inflorescence. In this sense, care must be excercised in considering what is a flower. In botanical terminology, a single daisy or sunflower for example, is not a flower but a flower head — an inflorescence comprised of numerous small flowers. Each small flower is anatomically as described above.
A major function of flowers in nature is simply to attract animals to pollinate the flower, the movements of the pollinating agent contributing to the opportunity for genetic recombinations within a dispersed plant population. Bees and birds are common pollinators: both have color vision, thus selecting for "colorful" flowers. Some flowers have patterns, called nectar guides, that are evident in the ultraviolet range, visible to bees but not to humans. Flowers also attract pollinators by scent. In any case, pollinators are attracted to the plant, perhaps in search of nectar, which they eat. The arrangement of the stamens insures that pollen grains are transferred to the bodies of the pollinator. In gathering nectar from many flowers of the same species, the pollinators transfer pollen between all of the flowers.
Flower scent is not always pleasant to our nose. Some plants, such as Rafflesia, the titan arum, and the North American paw paw (Asimina triloba) are pollinated by flies, so produce a scent imitating rotting meat. Other flowers are pollinated by the wind, and these species (for example, the grasses) have no need to attract pollinators and therefore tend not to be "showy".
Flowers that are insect pollinated are called entomophilous (literally "insect loving"), and wind pollinated flowers are referred to as anemophilous. Pollens of entomophilous flowers tend to be large grained, sticky, and contain significant protein, which is another reward for pollinators. Anemophilous flower pollen is usually small grained, very light, and of little nutritional value to insects, though it may still be gathered, in times of dearth. Honeybees and bumblebees actively gather anemophilous corn (maize) pollen, though it is of little value to them.
There is much confusion about the role of flowers in allergies. For example the showy and entomophilous goldenrod (Solidago) is frequently blamed for respiratory allergies, of which it is innocent, since its pollen cannot be airborne. Instead the allergen is usually the pollen of the contemporary bloom of anemophilous ragweed (Ambrosia) which can drift for many kilometers.
See also: List of flowers, Flower album
The great variety of delicate and beautiful flowers has inspired the works of many poets.
Ah, Sun-flower weary of time,
The Roman goddess of flowers, gardens, and the season of Spring is Flora. The Greek goddess of spring, flowers and nature is Chloris.Anatomy
Although the floral structure described above is considered the "typical" structural plan, plant species show a wide range of modifications from this plan. These modifications have significance in the evolution of flowering plants and are used extensively by botanists to establish relationships among plant species. The two subclasses of flowering plants are distinguished by the number of floral organs in each whorl: dicotyledons typically having 4 or 5 organs (or a multiple of 4 or 5) in each whorl and monocotyledons having three or some multiple of three. The number of carpels in a compound pistil may be only two, or otherwise not related to the generalization for monocots and dicots. Flower function
Flowers in the Arts
Who countest the steps of the Sun,
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done:
Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow
Arise from their graves, and aspire
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.
The term "flower" may refer to a flowering plant, as in to plant flowers. Also see gardening.