Parts of Flower and Pollination

Vocabulary flashcards covering floral structure, flower types, inflorescence forms, pollination modes, and reproductive anatomy based on the Fundamental Botany lecture notes.

Sepal

Green, leaf-like outermost floral part; collectively called the calyx.

Calyx

The collective term for all sepals of a flower.

Petal

Often colored floral organ; collectively form the corolla and are modified leaves with veins and a midrib.

Corolla

The collective term for all petals of a flower.

Stamen (Androecium)

Male reproductive part of a flower, consisting of an anther and a filament.

Anther

Pollen-producing portion of a stamen.

Filament

Slender stalk that supports the anther.

Pistil (Gynoecium)

Female reproductive part of a flower, made up of ovary, style, and stigma.

Ovary

Basal portion of a pistil that houses ovules; becomes fruit after fertilization.

Style

Slender column connecting stigma to ovary.

Stigma

Receptive tip of a pistil where pollen lands and germinates.

Pedicel

Individual flower stalk within an inflorescence.

Peduncle

Main stalk of a solitary flower or entire inflorescence.

Receptacle

Fleshy floral axis at which sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils attach.

Stipule

Small leaf-like appendage at the base of a leaf stalk; sometimes present near flowers.

Inflorescence

Arrangement of multiple flowers on a plant; peduncle is main stalk, pedicel bears each flower.

Simple (Solitary) Flower

One stalk bears one flower.

Composite Flower

Head composed of many small ray and disk flowers (e.g., sunflower, daisy).

Ray Flower

Peripheral, strap-shaped flower of a composite head; structures radiating from the center

Disk Flower

Tubular, central flower of a composite head.

Spadix

Thick, fleshy inflorescence axis with tiny flowers, often surrounded by a spathe (e.g., Anthurium).

Complete Flower

Possesses sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils.

Incomplete Flower

Lacks one or more of sepals, petals, stamens, or pistils.

Perfect Flower

Contains both stamens and pistils.

Imperfect Flower

Has either stamens or pistils, not both.

Staminate Flower

Imperfect flower bearing only stamens (male).

Pistillate Flower

Imperfect flower bearing only pistils (female).

Monoecious Plant

Single plant bears separate staminate and pistillate flowers (e.g., corn).

Dioecious Plant

Male and female flowers occur on different plants (e.g., papaya).

Gamopetalous Flower

Petals fused at base, separating partway up.

Polypetalous Flower

Petals free from base to tip.

Apetalous Flower

Flower entirely lacking petals.

Hypogynous Flower

Ovary is superior; other floral parts attached below it.

Perigynous Flower

Partly inferior (hemi-inferior) ovary; floral parts arranged around it.

Epigynous Flower

Ovary is inferior; floral parts appear attached above it.

Actinomorphic Flower

Regular, radially symmetrical flower.

Zygomorphic Flower

Irregular, bilaterally symmetrical flower.

Bilabiate Flower

Two-lipped zygomorphic corolla (e.g., lavender).

Papilionaceous Flower

Butterfly-shaped corolla characteristic of legumes.

Caesalpinaceous Flower

Banner-type asymmetric corolla seen in what flowers?

Orchidaceous Flower

Orchid flower with a distinct lip (labellum).

Pollination

Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma.

Anemophily

Wind pollination; flowers typically lack petals and have abundant airborne pollen.

Hydrophily

Water pollination, occurring at the surface or submerged.

Entomophily

Insect pollination; flower traits vary for bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, etc.

Chiropterophily

Bat pollination; flowers open at night and often have strong odors.

Ornithophily

Bird pollination; flowers adapt to birds' beaks and feeding habits.

Placentation

Arrangement of ovules inside the ovary.

Marginal Placentation

Ovules attached along one side of a single carpel.

Parietal Placentation

Ovules attached to inner ovary wall of a syncarpous ovary.

Axile Placentation

Ovules attached to a central column in a multi-locular ovary.

Free Central Placentation

Ovules on a free-standing central column within a single locule.

Funicle

Stalk attaching an ovule to the placenta.

Hilum

Scar marking the point of funicle attachment to an ovule or seed.

Raphe

Ridge formed by funicle fusion along the ovule body.

Chalaza

Region opposite the micropyle where integuments and nucellus join.

Embryo Sac

Female gametophyte within the ovule where fertilization occurs.

Nucellus

Tissue surrounding the embryo sac; provides nourishment.

Megasporocyte

Diploid cell within an ovule that undergoes meiosis to form megaspores.

Integument

Protective outer layer(s) of an ovule; become seed coat.

Micropyle

Small opening in integuments through which pollen tube enters.

Endothecium

Anther wall layer that aids dehiscence.

Tapetum

Nutritive inner layer of anther wall that supports pollen development.

Stomium

Region of anther that splits open to release pollen.

Pollen Grain

Male gametophyte containing sperm cells; fits specifically (“lock-and-key”) with its species’ stigma.

Abiotic Pollination

Pollination that occurs through non-living factors such as wind and water.

Anemophily

Pollination by wind; flowers are often without petals

Hydrophily

Pollination by water; occurs in aquatic plants

Biotic Pollination

Pollination that occurs through living organisms such as insects

Entomophily

Pollination by insects; includes bees (purple flowers)

Chiropterophily

Pollination by bats; flowers often bloom at night and are suited to bat pollinators.

Ornithophily

Pollination by birds; flowers are adapted to birds' beaks.

Lizard Pollination

Pollination by lizards.

Mouse Pollination

Pollination by mice.

purple

what color of flowers are bees attracted to

red and orange

what color of flowers are butterflies attracted to

smells like dung or rotten meat

what kind of flowers are flies attracted to

white with strong odor

what color of flowers are beetles attracted to

white with sweet smelling odor

what color of flowers are moth attracted to

flowers with long tubular corolla

what kind of flowers are hummingbirds attracted to

red and yellow with no odor

what color of flowers are birds attracted to

inconspicuous flowers that open at night

what kind of flowers are mouse attracted to

Orchid Pollination

Orchids often have specialized structures and attract specific pollinators, sometimes using mimicry or scent to ensure pollen transfer.

Fig Pollination

Figs are pollinated by tiny wasps that enter the fig, lay eggs, and in the process transfer pollen between flowers inside the fruit.

Pseudocopulation

A form of pollination where a flower mimics the appearance and scent of a female insect, causing male insects to attempt to mate with the flower and inadvertently transfer pollen.

Strategies to Avoid Self-Pollination

Plants may be dioecious (separate male and female plants), have physical or temporal separation of male and female organs, or other mechanisms to encourage cross-pollination and reduce self-pollination.

Timing

male and female structure mature at different times

Morphological

structure of male and female parts prevents self pollination

biochemical

chemical on pollen surface and stigma/style that prevent pollen tube germination on the same flower