Chapter 5 - Flowers

Flower Industry

• Most Expensive Flower: Seper Augustus “Cracked Tulip”

  • Caused “tulip mania” in the Netherlands, 1600’s

Booming $35 billion industry (Major Flowers): Roses and Orchids

• High demand on Valentine Day

• Require swift and careful care while being shipped due to short life span.

Medicinal Flowers

• Trout Lily: Used by Natives to heal wounds & treat fevers

• Chamomile: calming effects (sleep aid)

• Echinacea: Immune system booster, prevents cold

• Yarrow: “all-healing” plant

Essential Oil Flower

• Ylang-ylang: Tropical Asian flower used in hair and skin products due to it’s Vitamin E content

• Roses, Lavender, and Violet scents used in perfume industry

What is the purpose of a flowers scent?

• To attract pollinators. (co-evolution)

  • Each flower has a specific shape to accommodate certain pollinators.

Monocot vs Dicot

Major Flowering Plant Families

• Astreacae (Sunflower Family)

  • The Largest family

  • “Head” inflorescence

• Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)

  • 2nd largest family

  • Ex. Moth Orchid (most sold), Vanilla

• Male Organs: Filament, Stamen, Anther

• Female Organs: Carpel (Ovary, Style,Stigma)

What are the main functions of a flower?

• Attract Pollinators for pollen transfer → Promotes out-crossing, increasing genetic diversity

  • Cultural significance of Pollen: Pollen Dance of the Native Americans as a symbol of fertility & food security

Scent & Color attracts pollinators (Flavenoids)

• Anthocyanins: Red, Blue, Purple pigments

• Betacyanins: Bright pinks and purple

  • In plants like bougainvillea the pink colored parts are actually bracts, not flowers (modified leaves)

Unique/Parasitic Flowers

• Raffalesia “Corpse Flower”

  • Large parasitic flower, attracts flies w/ rotten meat smell for pollination.

• Monotropa uniflora “Indian Pipe”

  • AKA the “Ghost Flower” → white color due to lack of chlorophyll

  • Parasitic on mycorrhizal fungi, stealing it’s carbohydrates