3

THE FLOWER:
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Syllabua
Flower: Structure of a bisexual flower, functions of various parts.
Scope of Syllabus :
u Symmetry of flower, Introduction to complete and incomplete flowers.
Whorls of flower; parts and types; essential and non-essential whorls of a
bisexual flower and functions.
Inflorescence and placentation (detailsnot required).

Flowers arethe most beautiful structures on the earth. Flower bearing plants are called angiosperms
CAngio =closed; sperms = seed).
The arrangement of flowers on twig is called inflorescence. Flower is a modified reproductive shoot
contain
where sexual reproduction in angiosperms occurs. Flowers also called modified leaves, which
embryo,
Decialized organs such as ovaries and anthers. After fertilization the zygote develops into an
hich is surrounded by aseed coat which in turn is encased by the fruit.
(male sex structure called Androecium) which
Aflowering plant's sexual organs consist of the stamen
tip; the pistil (female sex structure called
onsists of a filament and a pollen-bearing anther at the
stigma at the tip. (The pistil is also sometimes called the
Eynoecium), consisting of ovary and ovule, style, and
arpel.) and petal are
androecium and gynoecium are essential whorls of the flower where as sepal
The
on-essential whorls of the flower.
PARTS OF FLOWER

Present in the flower

Following Whorls or Appendages are whorls, which are
and reproductive parts, aflower is also composed of four
Along with the vegetative circular section with a
radial arrangement of a flower. A typical flower has a
Tgely responsible for the observed and distinguished from the top of the
flower.
be clearly
Dmmon centre, which can
 26 ICSE Biology t
There four whorls are as following :
Stigma

Anther
Style Stamen
-Filament
Pistil Petal

Ovule
Ovary
Sepal
Receptace
Pedicel

Fig. 3.1 L.S. of flower

1. Calyx: The calyx is the outermost whorlof a flower. It contains
base of a flower. These protect the flower whorls against mechanical sepals, and tiny leaves present at t,
have coloured sepals (calyx) and are called injuries and desiccation. Some plan,
petaloid.
If the sepals are free the calyx is called polysepalous,
gamosepalous. and if they are united the calyx is call

(a (b)
(c)
Gamosepalous
Polysepalous
Fig. 3.2 Forms of calyx
In many flowers, the sepals
fall off before the flower even
caducous. opens fully. Such sepals are known
a
In some flowers, the sepals
fall off after fertilization. Such
persistent sepals remain up to the fruiting sepals are known as deciduous. The
2. Corolla : This is the stage.
second whorl of a flower. It
3 To attract pollinators. contains petals which serve two
main functions
Toprotect the reproductive
parts of aflower
Petals are brightly coloured and
corolla are collectively called the scented to attract animals and insects for
On the basis of petals the perianth. pollination. The calyx and
flowers are following two
3 Polypetalous (Petals
may be free). types :
Gamopetalous (Petals may be united
forming a tube).
 The Fiower.: Structure and Function 27

Free petals
United petals

Gamopetalous Polypetalous
Fig. 3.3 Forms of Corolla

3. Stamens: These are the male reproductive organs of flower. Each stamen consist of an anther and a
stalk-like fhlament. The group of stamens is called androecium, It is the third whorl of the flower.
4. Pistil|: It is the female reproductive organ of aflower. Pistil may be formed of asingle female unit
(carpel) or of: several fused lcarpels collectively called
gynoecium.
5. Pedicel : The stalk on which flower grows is called Pedicel. The flower with pedicel is called
pedicilate. If the flower is attached directly with node on stem it is called sessile flower.
6. Receptacle : The swollen tip of pedicel is called Receptacle or Thalamus. It bears the flower and
Imaybe flat as in sunflower family or oval shaped common in many families.

SYMMETRY IN FLOWERS
Floral symmetry refers to whether a flower can be divided intotwo or more identical or mirror-image
parts. There are two types of flowers on the basis of symmetry: Symmetric and Asymmetric flowers.
Symmetric Flowers
There are two types of symmetry in flowers- Actinomorphicand zygomorphic.
Actinomorphic : Most flowers are actinomorphic ("star shaped" ="radial"= ). It means they can be
divided into 3 or more identical sectors which are related to each other by rotation about the centre of the
fower. Typicaly, each sectorwould contain one petal, one sepal and so on. Actinomorphic flowers are also
called radially symmetrical or regular flowers, examples of actinomorphic flowers are the
lily(Lilium,liliaceae) and the buttercup (Ranunculaceae).

Zygomorphic (irregular) Asymmetric

Actinomorphic (regular) (no dividing in equal plane)
(more than one dividing plane) (one bilateral dividing plane)
Fig. 3.4 Symmetry of flower
 28
divided by on
=(%)) flowers can be
singleZygomorphic
"bilateral"
: Zygomorphic ("yoke shaped" =, yoke or a person's face. Examples are orch
plane into twO mirror-image halves, much like a
different shapes,
sizes, and
colours.

Zygomorphic flowers generally have petals of two or more

Asymmetric Flowers because their parts are spir

at all, typically
Least commonly, flowers may have no axis of symmetry planes.
arranged. Canna is an example of a flower without such mirror
PARTS PRESENT
THE BASIS OF
TYPES OF FLOWER ON
These are of following types : whorls.
have all the 4
1. Complete flowers : Those flowers, which are without 1
or 2 whorls.
2. Incomplete flowers: Those flowers, only stamens as sex organs and not the carpel, such flowe
which
having
3. Staminate flowers :Ifa flower is
are called staminate flowers.
Stigma Petal
Stigme Petl Syle
Style
Anther Stamen Pistl Ovules
Pisti Ovules
Flament Ovary
|Ovary

Sepal Sepal
Pedicel Pedicel.
Complete flower Incomplete (pistillate) flower
Fig. 3.5 Types of flower

organs and not the stamen, such flower

4. Pistillate flowers : If a flower is having only carpel as sex
are called pistillate flowers.
a structure is callei
5. Perianth flowers : If in a flower petal and sepal is not differentiated, such
perianth, its unit is called tepal.
6. Polvpetalous : In these flowers petals are free and the stamens are usually free and arise from the
torus.
7. Gamopetalous :In these flowers, petals are fused and the stamens are often fused with the petals,
Such stamens are called epipetalous, e.g., Solanum.
REPRODUCTIVE PARTS OF FLOWER
Androecium
It is the male reproductive part and constitutes the third whorl in the flower. It is formed of one to many
stamens. Each stamen consists of a long filament and an anther at its tip.
The anther is usually two lobed. Each lobe has two pollen sacs. It means a anther has four pollen sacs. In
the pollen sacs pollen grains are present. When pollen sac become mature it rupture to liberate pollen
grains. The pollen grains are of different shape and size and generally found in the form of powdery
particles.
 The
FloWer
Structure and Function 29

Anther
Pollen grains

Filament
Pore
Nucleoli
Pollen Thickening
sacs of cellulose
Intine
Exine
(A)
(B) (C)
Pig. 3.6 (A)Stamen. (B) T.S, of
Anther. (C) Pollen grain
Pollen grain and its
structure: Apollen grain is an immature male gametophyte. It is
produced
within the sporangium of the anthers. The diploid microspore mother cell will undergo meiosis and form 4
haploid microspores.
These are haploid, uninucleate
a Generally spherical but can be
(single nucleus), minute spores.
oval, ellipsoidal, triangular etc.
Cytoplasm covered by inner thin layer called intine and outer thick cuticularised layer called exine.
At some places exine is thin and
discontinuous and such places are termed as germ pores.
The microspores nuciei will undergo mitosis and produce a
tube nucleus and a generative nucleus.
Types of Androecium
In androecium, stamens may be free (polyandrous) as in Pitunia,
are joined and organised in single,
double or several groups.
On the basis of attachment the stamens are of
following types :
1, Monadelphous : The stamens may be free or united in various ways. If all the
stamens unite in one
bundle by connation of their filaments, the androecium is said to be monadelphous, e.g.,
Crotalaria.
Hibisus,
2.Diadelphous : If the stamens unite into two bundles, the androecium is described as diadelphous,
e.g, LathyrUs, pea.
3. Polyadelphous : In some flowers there are numerous stamens and their filaments unite into a
number of bundles. Such an androecium is called polyadelphous, eg, Bombax, Citrus.

Monadelphous Diadelphous Polyadelphous

(one groups) (two groups) (severalgroups)
Fig. 3.7 Forms of androecium
 30 ICSE Biology ,
Extra Information
ypes of Stamen on The Basis of Lobes :
L. Dithecous : The anther is described as dithecous when it consists of
WO anther lobes. The two anther lobes are connected to each other by the
Connective, e.g., Grotalaria, Solanum etc.
Dithecous
stamen Monothe.
stamer
2. Monothecous : The anther consists of only one anther lobe, it is Fig. 3.8 Types of stamen on
the basis of lobes
|called monothecous, e.g., Hibiscus.
Types of Stamen on The Basis of Filament Attachment : The attachment of the anther to .
nlament is specific.When the filament is attached to the back of the anther throughout its length, the anth
said to be dorsifixed, e.g., Michelia.

Versatile Basifixed Dorsifixed

Fig. 3.9 Types of stamen on the basis of attachment

But in somne the extreme tip of the filament is attached to the base of the filament, when the anther:
ldescribed as basifixed, e.g, Solanum. Sometimes, the filament is attached to the middle of the anther so th
the anther swings freely on the filament. This type of anther is called versatile, e.g., Grasses.
Gynoecium or Pistil
Gynoecium is the innermost whorl and is the female reproductive part of the Stigma
flower. The gynoecium has three parts, the basal ovary, the elongated style and the
terminal stigma.
Style
The ovary is made up of one to many units called carpels. Depending on the
number of carpels present, ovary is described as follows:
(a) Monocarpellary (having one carpel), e.g., Beans.
(b) Bicarpellary (having twocarpels), e.8., Brassica.
(c) Tricarpellary (having three carpels), e.g., Ricinus (Castor). Ovary
(d) Tetracarpellary (having four carpels), e.g., Bergia.
(e) Pentacarpellary (having five carpels), e.g., Hibiscus, apple.
The carpels in the ovary may be free from one another or fused. The ovary
is Fig. 3.10 Gynoecium (pisti
described as apocarpus, when the carpels are free, e.g., Michelia. The ovary is showing different parts
described as syncarpous, when the carpels are united, e.g., Ricinus, Citrus.
Depending upon its position the ovary may be :
(i) Superior : When all the floral parts arise from the base of the ovary as in
hypogynous flowers (Fig.
A).
(ii) Inferior : When all the floral parts arise from above the ovary as in
epigynous flower (Fig. C).
 The Flower Structure and Function 31
(ii)semi-inferior : Where the floral parts are seen deeveloping from about the middle of ovary as in
perigynous flowers (Fig. B).

Ovary Starnen
Petal
Stamen
Sepal
Petal
Ovary
Sepal
Thalamus
Thalamus

(A)Superior ovary (C) Inferior ovary

(B) Semi-inferior ovary
Fig. 3.11 Different positions of ovary
When the ovary is syncarpous, it may show one to many chambers called locules.
Ovary wall
Ovules

-Locules

Placenta
Locule
Locules
(A) (B (C) D (E)
Fig. 3.12 T.S. of gynoecium showing number of locules: A. Unilocular, B. Bilocular,
C. Trilocular, D. Tetralocular, E. Pentalocular
of the ovary with the help of a
The ovary encloses the ovules. The ovules are attached to the inner wall
tissue called Iplacenta.
special type of
PLACENTATION
several
arrangement of ovules on the placenta inside the ovary is called placentation. There are
The
types ofpalcentation:
(a) Marginal Placentation
monolocular and the placenta is on the
ventral suture. The
ovary is monocarpellary,
In this type, the
is on the margin., e.g., Beans, Pea, etc.
ovules are attached tothe placenta which
(b) Axile Placentation
locules. The ovules are
more carpels, syncarpous, and has two or more
or
In this type, the ovary has two and fusion of the septa (partitions)
and usually in
axis formed by the union
borne at or near the centre on the
Hibiscus etc.
vertical rows, e.g., Apple,
 ICSE Biology
32
sal suture

Ventral suture Ovary Wall

-Placenta LOcule
Ovule Placenta
Centrak
Locule axis
Ovule
Axial
Parietal
Marginal
Ovary wall
Ovary wall

o
Locule
-Locule
Ovule
Ovule
Septum
Placenta
Ovules
Central
axis
Apical
Superficial
Free central Basal
placentation
Fig. 3.13 Various types of

(c) Free Central Placentation

ovary is monolocular, wherein the ovules are borne on a central axis that reaches the
ln this type, the
of the ovary, e.g., Primula, Sandal wood etc.
(d) Free Basal Placentation
the ovary, e.g., Portulaca, Celosi
Similar to free central but the placental column does not reach the top of
etc.

(e) Parietal Placentation

Here there are at
In this type, the ovary has two or more carpels, and is syncarpous, and monolocular.
many placentae as the number of carpels and the ovules are attached tothose placentae at the periphery, e,g
Cucurbita, Argemorne etc.
() Basal Placentation
In this type, the ovary is monolocular. The ovules are few or reduced to one and borne at the base of the
ovary. The ovule when solitary often fills the ovary cavity, e.g., Sunflower.
(g) Apical Placentation
The ovary is monolocular. The one or two ovules are borne at the roof of the ovary, e.g., Morus.
INFLORESCENCE
An inflorescence is agroup or cluster of flowers arranged on astem that is composed of a main branch or a
complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers
are formed and which is accordingly modified.
The Flower: Structure and Function 33
Stem
Aower
Petiole,
Pedicel
Leaf. -Peduncle
Inftoresence
Raceme
Spike
Corymb
Panicle Umbel Scorpioid
cyme
Fig. 3.14 Different cyme

types of inflorescence foti

Flower is modified shoot

meant for
Summany
flower is born isreproduction.
The shoot on which
Flower is complete if it called
inflorescence.
has all the 4
androecium (unit = stamen) and whorls, e.g., calyx (unit =sepal), corolla (unit =petal),
whorls is absent. thegynoecium
* If either of the (unit =pistil) .
flower is
organ is present,the flower called incomplete.
If only one sex
the flower is
called staminate and if is called unisexual, if only male sex organ is found
pistillate. female only sex organ is found the flower is called
* If calyx and corolla are
Astamen consists of undifferentiated. the condition is called perianth (unit =tepal).
lobes.
anther, filament and connective in dithecus to connect the two
anther
* Apistil (carpel) has stigma
(flat top surface), long canal as style and
ovary. Ovary bears ovules. basal swollen part as
* The flower on the basis of
relative position of ovary is of 3
and epigynous. types-hypogynous, perigynous
Placenta is cushion like structure to bear
ovules.
Placentation is the arrangement of ovules in the ovary.

EXERCISE
MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPEQUESTIONS
1. The part of the flower that gives rise to the fruit is :
(a) Stamens (b) Petals (c) Ovary () Sepals
2. When gynoecium is present at the top most position of thalamus, the flower is known as :
(a) Inferior (b) Epigynous (c) Perigynous (d) Hypogynous
 ICSE B10l0gy
SThe part of the flower that gives rise to the seed is :
(a) Ovary (b) Placenta (c) Ovule (d) Pollen grains
4. The flower is a modified:
(a) Stem (b)Root (c) Bud (d) Leaf
5. Bougainvillea flower is an example of :
(a) Water pollination (b) having a large nectary
(c) incomplete flower (d) large colourful bracts
6, The essential whorls of a flower are the :
(a) Calyx and epicalyx (b) Stamen and ovary
(c) Calyx and corolla (d) Androecium and gynoecium
7. Aflower is said to be complete when:
(a) It has the corolla and calyx (b)It has the corolla and gynoecium
(c) It has the androecium and gynoecium (d) It has all the four whorls
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. What is called a single unit of gynoecium?
2. What is called a single unit of androecium?
3. Name the three parts of pistil.
4. State whether the following statements are True (T) False (F).
(a) The male part of the flower is called the stamen. (TA
(b) The female part of the flower is called the pistil.
(c), The sepals protect the flower when it is a bud. (TA
(d) The petals of the flower help to protect it from insects. (TA
5. Fill in the blanks with the sutable word :
(a)The two reproductive parts of the flower are and gynoecium.
(b)The three parts of are ovary, style and stigma.
(c) Sepal and are the non-essential parts of the flower.
(d) Pistil is the reproductive part of the flower.
SHORTANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. What doyou mean by hypogynous and perigynous flowers.
2. Name the essential whorls of flower.
3. Define the following terms:
(a) Flower (b)Inflorescence
(c) Whorls of flower (d) Non-essential whorl
(e) A complete flower () Gynoecium
The Flower : Structure and Function 35

AExplain the following term :

(a) Androecium
(b) Perianth
() Gamosepalous
(d) Gamopetalous
(e) Polysepalous
() Polypetalous
(g) Petaloid sepal
OLONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Name the all floral whorls of the flower and also explain their functional and structural units.
Draw a complete flower and label its allparts.
Differentiate between the following pairs:
(a) Actinomorphic and zygomorphic flower
(b) Inferior ovary and superior ovary
(c) Essential and non-essential whorls
(d) Pedicillate and sessile flower
4. Explain the terms monoadelphous, diadelphous and polydelphous and give the example each of them.
STRUCTURED/APPLICATION/SKILL TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Identify the flowers and give the reason for your observation.

2. Answer the questions on the basis of the following diagram:

B

(a) Identify all the parts (A-H) in the flower.

(b) Which part is protective in nature during bud stage?
(c) Where does fertilization take place?
(d)Give the correct name of the diagram.
(e) Where are the pollen grains born?
(O) What is the function of style?
(3) Which structure is also called as pollen chamber?