Flower
The flower is the reproductive unit of some
plants (angiosperms). Parts of the flower
include petals, sepals, one or more carpels
(the female reproductive organs), and
stamens (the male reproductive organs).
Some flowers (called perfect flowers) have
both male and female reproductive organs;
some flowers (called imperfect flowers) have
only male reproductive organs. Some plants
have both male and female flowers, while
other have males on one plant and females
on another. Complete flowers have stamens,
a pistil, petals, and sepals. Incomplete
flowers lack one of these parts.
Corolla
The corolla is made of petals
which are often brightly colored.
Latin: corolla-a little crown.
Greek: petalos, flat.
Stigma
The stigma is located at the tip of the
style. It is saucer-shaped to provide
a ready surface to catch pollen on.
Pollen must land on the stigma before
it reaches the ovary. The stigma is
like a doorway to the ovary.
Calyx
The calyx is the outer covering of the flower.
The calyx is usually green. The separate
divisions of the calyx are called sepals.
Latin: calyx-husk, shell, cup
Style
Style
The style is a long tube leading from the
ovary to the stigma. If the right sort of
pollen grain lands on the stigma, a hair-like
pollen tube grows. This grows down the
style and into the ovary. More than
one pollen tube may grow at a time.
Stamen
The stamen forms the male part of the
flower. The stamen produces the pollen. The
stamens together are called androecium.
Greek: andros-male; oikos-house.
Ovary
The ovary is located at the bottom of
the flower, where it is well-protected.
Inside the ovary are ovules waiting to be
fertilized. Fertilization occurs when the
pollen tube reaches the ovary and
bursts open, releasing a male sex cell
to fertilize a female sex cell (ovule).
Pistil
The pistil (also called the "carpel")
is the female part of the flower.
The pistil includes an ovary, a style
and a stigma. The pistil produces the
ovules which grow into seeds. All the
pistils together are called gynoecium.
Greek: gyne-female; oikos-house.
Pedicel
The pedicel is a slender stalk
that supports a flower.
Latin: pediculus - foot stalk
Pinegreenwoods Montessori
Montessori Botany
