Flowers

FLOWERS

Flowers start as buds, which are modified leaves that develop to have the male and/or female reproductive organisms. These inflorescences (clusters of flowers) ultimately turn into the fruit of the plant. There are four different structures attached to the floral stalk. These are the sepals, the petals, the stamens, and the carpels. These can be grouped in multiples of threes, fours and fives. Figure 44 shows the structure of a flower:

The sepals are the green part that encloses the flower bud. All of the sepals together are called the calyx. Inside this are the brightly colored petals, collectively called the corolla. The calyx and corolla together are referred to as the perianth. These are not directly involved in reproduction but protect the flower and attract the pollinators.

Inside the corolla are the stamens, which are the spore-producing structures, collectively called the androecium. These are the male parts of the flower in which the microsporangia form. The stamens will have a filament or stalk that has the anther and