A flower, sometimes known as a bloom of blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to mediate the union of male sperm with female ovum in order to produce seeds. The process begins with pollination. Is followed by fertilization, leading to the formation and dispersal of the seeds. For the higher plants, seeds are the next generation, and serve as the primary means by which individuals of a species are dispersed across the landscape. The grouping of flowers on a plant is called the inflorescence.
In addition to serving as the reproductive organs of flowering plants, flowers have long been admired and used by humans, mainly to beautify their environment but also as a source of food.
The flowers of plants that make use of biotic pollen vectors commonly have glands called nectarines that act as an incentive for animals to visit the flower. Some flowers have patterns, called nectar guides, that show pollinators where to look foe nectar. Flowers also attract pollinators by scent and color. Still other flowers use mimicry to attract pollinators. Some species of orchids, for example, produce flowers resembling female bees in color, shape, and scent. Flowers are also specialized in shape and have an arrangement of the stamens that ensures that pollen grains are transferred to the bodies of the pollinator when it Iands In search of its attractant.
In pursuing this attractant from many flowers of the same species, the pollinator transfers pollen to the stigmas arranged with equally pointed precision of the of the flowers it visits. Flowering plants are heterosporangiate, producing two types of reproductive spores. The pollen and ovules are produced in different organs. But the typical flower is a bisporangiate strobilus in that it contains both organs.
In pursuing this attractant from many flowers of the same species, the pollinator transfers pollen to the stigmas arranged with equally pointed precision of the of the flowers it visits. Flowering plants are heterosporangiate, producing two types of reproductive spores. The pollen and ovules are produced in different organs. But the typical flower is a bisporangiate strobilus in that it contains both organs.
Specific terminology is used to descried flowers and their parts. Many flower parts are fused together, fused parts originating from the same whorl are connate, while fused parts originating from different whorls are adnate, parts that are free. When petals are fused into a tube or ring that falls ways as a single unit, they are symptalous. Petals that are connate may have distinctive regions the cylindrical base is the tuble, the expanding region is the throat and the flaring outer region is the limb. A sympetalous flower, with bilateral symmetry with an upper and lower lip, is bilabiate.
Flowers with connate petals or sepals may have various shaped corolla or calyx including. Campanulate, funnelform, tubular, urceolate, salverform or rotate……