OH plants Flower Terminology

an attempt at all of the flower terminology discussed in class

Stipules

a small, leaf-like appendage found at the base of a leaf stalk (the petiole) in many flowering plants

Bract

any modified leaf-like structure not clearly a leaf, stipule, or part of a flower

Glabrous

smooth epidermal surface (leaf)

Pubescent

hairy epidermal surface (leaf)

Glaucous

whitish waxy epidermal surface (leaf)

Trichome

Hairs, can be stinging

Prickles armature

epidermal outgrowth aka thorn

Thorn armature

modified branch, not on stem

Spine armature

modified leaf

Stamen

Male spore/gametophyte/gamete producing structure

Carpel

Female spore/gametophyte/gamete producing structure

Corolla

Petals

Calyx

sepals

Dioecious/Unisexual/Incomplete flowers

either stamen or carpel, sepals and petals lacking

Zygomorphic symmetry

bilateral symmetry, only sym down the middle

Actinomorphic symmetry

radial or regular symmetry, sym at any axis

Sympetalous Corolla

fused petals

Connate (fused Corolla)

fusion within a whorl

Adnate (fused Corolla)

fusion between whorls

Apocarpous (Gynoecium type)

no carpel

Unicarpellate (Gynoecium type)

1 carpel

Syncarpous (Gynoecium type)

more than 1 carpel

Inflorescences

collections of flowers

Spike (Inflorescence)

simple, unbranched flower cluster where the flowers attach directly to the main stem without individual stalks

Raceme (Inflorescence)

an unbranched, indeterminate (stem not blocked by top flower) flower cluster where stalked flowers grow along a single central stem

Panicle (Inflorescence)

a much-branched, indeterminate cluster of flowers where the main stem divides multiple times into smaller flower-bearing stalks

Head (Inflorescence)

a tight cluster of many small, stalkless flowers packed together on a flat or expanded stem tip to look like a single large flower

Umbel (Inflorescence)

a type of flower cluster where multiple flower stalks (called pedicels) spread from a single common point, much like the ribs of an umbrella

Corymb (Inflorescence)

a flat-topped or convex flower cluster where outer flower stalks are longer than inner ones so all flowers reach the same height

Cyme (Inflorescence)

determinate inflorescence where the main stem ends in a flower that blooms first, stopping the upward growth of that axis. The oldest flower is at the center.

Indeterminate Inflorescences

Spike, Raceme, Panicle, Corymb, umbel