Parts of the flower and their functions

To explain what a flower is and to be able to talk about its parts and its functions, we will start with a summary of the simple definitions of the flower and its parts :

What is a flower

The definition of a flower is that it is a stem with limited growth that develops at its end modified leaves related to the reproductive function. These structures are called anthophiles (they are the petals and sepals) and they have different parts, each one specialized in one or more functions, such as gamete formation, fruit and seed dispersal, pollination and other protective structures.

In this other AgroCorrn article we talk about why flowers are important in nature .

What are the parts of the flower

When talking about the structure of a flower , in a general way, the parts of a flower can be divided mainly into two: those that have a reproductive function and those that do not. The part of the flower without reproductive function is called the perianth and is formed by the calyx made up of the following sterile structures:

• The sepals.
• The corolla, formed by petals.

The parts of the flower with reproductive function are:

• The androecium, formed by the stamens with their pollen grains (male reproductive organs).
• The gynoecium, formed by pistils with their carpels (female reproductive organs).
• The carpels are in turn divided into ovary, style and stigma.

Here you can learn about the Reproduction of plants and here below you can see a diagram of a flower and its parts.

As we said, each of the parts of a flower is specialized in a function. Thus, these are the parts of the flower and their functions :

• Peduncle: it is the corner that supports the flower. It is not part of the floral pieces.
• Receptacle or floral thalamus: widening of the peduncle where the anthophiles or flower pieces are inserted. It is not part of the floral pieces.
• Calyx: part of the flower consisting of leaf-shaped structures, usually green and called sepals. The function of the calyx is to protect the flower bud.
• Corolla: part of the flower formed by structures in the form of leaves, usually colored and called petals. The petals are formed after the sepals and their functions are pollinators, using their shapes and striking colors as a claim for pollinators. Learn here more about What are the petals of a flower and their function and What are pollinating insects and their importance .
• Androecium: it is the part of the flower that has the male reproductive organs: the stamens. In the male part of the flower , each stamen is made up of a filament at the end of which it widens to form the anther, where the male gametes or pollen grains are produced, also known as microgametophytes.
• Gyneceous: it is the part of the flower that has the female reproductive organs. This female part of the flower is formed by the pistil, which in turn is formed by the carpels. A carpel is divided into three parts. The ovary, which is the enlarged part where the ovum is located. The style, an elongated area between the ovary and the stigma. And finally, the stigma, which is the final part of the style and is a sticky structure, since its function is to capture the pollen grains.

The flowers of angiosperm plants , which are the typical flowers, can be classified according to different points of view. If we classify the flowers of angiosperm plants according to their reproductive part, we differentiate species with male flowers (only stamens), female flowers (only pistils) and hermaphrodite flowers (both types of reproductive organs). If we classify them according to the presence of all the floral structures (sepals, petals, stamens and pistil) we divide them into:

Full flowers

Flowers that consist of the four elements of a typical flower. An example is the rose. They would correspond to those flowers that are hermaphrodites.

Incomplete flowers

They do not consist of the four elements. An example is begonia, which consists of stamens or pistils, but not both. They would correspond to those flowers that have only one sex. Another way to classify them is according to the number of cotyledons in which the seed develops. Thus we have:

Monocots

The flower develops on a single cotyledon provided by the seed. Its leaves have only one parallel vein. For example, we have lilies, orchids, tulips, crocuses, daffodils or bluebells.

Learn more about this type of plants with this other post about monocotyledonous plants: what they are and examples .

Dichotylodoneas

The flower develops on two single cotyledons provided by the seed. Its veins start at the bottom and branch out to the surface. For example, we have roses, daisies, nasturtiums, begonias and portulacas.

To learn more, in this other post you can discover +25 types of flowers . Now that you know the parts of the flower and their functions, we recommend you read this other AgroCorrn article about the Parts of a plant and their functions and watch the video on this interesting topic below.

If you want to read more articles similar to Parts of the flower and their functions , we recommend that you enter our Biology category .