Flower Structure and Diversity

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the structure and diversity of flowers, including their reproductive parts and classifications.

Corolla

All petals of a flower collectively.

Perianth

The combination of petals and sepals.

Stamens

The male reproductive part of a flower, consisting of anther and filament.

Pollen grains

Microspores produced by anthers.

Carpels

The female reproductive structures of a flower; contains the ovary, stigma, and style.

Pistil

The female reproductive structure in a flower, made up of one or more carpels.

Stigma

The sticky structure at the top of the pistil that receives pollen.

Style

The slender middle portion of the pistil.

Ovary

The part of the flower that produces and nourishes one or more ovules; develops into fruit.

Complete flowers

Flowers that contain all four main floral whorls: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels.

Incomplete flowers

Flowers that lack one or more of the four main floral whorls.

Perfect flowers

Flowers that contain both stamens and carpels.

Imperfect flowers

Flowers that are lacking either stamens or carpels.

Receptacle

The thickened part of a stem that supports the flower.

Peduncle

The stalk of a flower.

Monocots

A major lineage of flowering plants characterized by one seed leaf.

Eudicots

A major lineage of flowering plants characterized by two seed leaves.

Inflorescence

A cluster of flowers arranged on a stem.

Nectar tubes

Floral structures that produce nectar to attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.

Seed Dispersal

The process by which seeds are spread away from the parent plant to reduce competition.

Amborella trichopoda

A species of flowering plant that is considered a representative of early angiosperms.