The Flowers: Structure and Importance

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Questions and Answers

What is the main function of a flower?

To provide support to the plant

To carry out photosynthesis

To produce seeds and fruits (correct)

To absorb water and nutrients

What is the collective term for the modified leaves in a flower?

Sepals and petals

Stamens and carpels

Floral leaves (correct)

Bracts and bracteoles

What is the term for a flower that has all four main parts?

Sessile flower

Pedicellate flower

Incomplete flower

Complete flower (correct)

What is the term for the swollen or expanded apex of the flower stalk?

Receptacle Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a cluster of flowers on a plant?

Inflorescence Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a flower bud that is used as a spice?

Clove Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the leafy structure that accompanies a flower?

Bract Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a flower that has both male and female organs?

Hermaphrodite Signup and view all the answers

What is the family of the Clove plant?

Myrtaceae Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical size of a Clove flower-bud?

16-21 mm long Signup and view all the answers

What is the main active constituent of Clove oil?

Eugenol (84-90%) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the uses of Clove?

As an antihistaminic Signup and view all the answers

How can Clove stalk be detected in powdered Clove?

Presence of prisms of calcium oxalate Signup and view all the answers

What is Mother Clove?

Clove with abundant starch Signup and view all the answers

How can Exhausted Clove be detected?

By its darker color and shrunken size Signup and view all the answers

What is a sesquiterpene of Clove oil cited as?

An anticarcinogenic compound Signup and view all the answers

What is the chemical test used to identify Eugenol?

5% KOH Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of mixing powdered cloves with Fecl3 solution?

To test for Tannins Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of Hibiscus sabdariffa?

South of Egypt, Sudan Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the calyx of Hibiscus sabdariffa?

Petaloid, crimson, 5-united cup shape Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of Hibiscus sabdariffa in medical preparations?

To decrease blood pressure Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the epicalyx of Hibiscus sabdariffa?

8-10 linear segments, connate below the base of the calyx Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of Hibiscus sabdariffa as a soft drink?

As a substituent for tea and coffee sensitive persons Signup and view all the answers

What is the colour of the solution when 5 mL of sodium acetate solution is added to 5 mL of the filtrate of Hibiscus sabdariffa?

Violet Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Flowers

A flower is a compressed fertile shoot crowded with modified leaves (floral leaves) that is adapted for the production of seeds and fruits.
It is very important for the identification of unknown plants.
A typical complete flower consists of four organs:
Calyx: composed of sepals
Corolla: composed of petals
Androecium: composed of stamens
Gynaecium: composed of carpels
The receptacle is the swollen or expanded apex of the flower stalk, which can be short or elongated.
Flowers may be aggregated on the plant forming inflorescence, which can be classified as Cymose or Racemose based on the branching method.
Bracts and bracteoles are accessory leafy structures that may be present in flowers.
Flowers can be classified as:
Hermaphrodite (bisexual): having both male and female organs
Unisexual: having one sexual organ
Sterile: having no sexual organs

Clove

Origin: dried flower-buds of Eugenia aromatica (E.caryophyllata) from the Myrtaceae family.
Geographical source: Zanzibar, Indonesia, Madagascar, and Brazil.
Description: dry flower-buds with a strong, spicy, and aromatic odor and taste, reddish-brown in color, and 16-21 mm long.
Calyx: four, thick, acute-triangular sepals.
Corolla: four unexpanded petals.
Powdered clove: brown in color, with strong spicy taste and slight characteristic aromatic odor, and pungent numbness.
Microscopic characteristics: numerous triangular pollen grains, fragments of parenchymatous tissue showing entire or broken oil gland, and schizolysigenous oil gland.
Active constituents: 15-20% volatile oil (Eugenol, acetyl eugenol, sesquiterpenes), and 10-13% tannin.
Uses: treatment of teeth pain, carminative, antispasmodic, preparation of vanillin, preparation of clove oil, antiseptic, antihistaminic, and anticarcinogenic compound.
Adulteration: clove stalk, mother clove, and exhausted clove.
Chemical tests: test for Eugenol, and test for tannins.

Hibiscus

Origin: dried calyx and epicalyx of the flower of Hibiscus sabdariffa from the Malvaceae family.
Geographical source: South of Egypt, Sudan.
Description: dried curved pieces of calyx and epicalyx, purplish to crimson in color, with a characteristic odor and slightly acidic and mucilaginous taste.
Microscopic characteristics: stellate hairs, cottony non-glandular hairs, polygonal tabular cells, lignified fibers, and spiral vessels.
Active constituents: organic acids (citric, malic, hibiscic), colouring matter of anthocyanins (hibiscin), flavonoid (hibiscetin), and large amount of mucilage.
Uses: antihypertensive, sedative, digestive, soft drink, emollient, substituent for tea and coffee, and weight reducing agent.
Chemical identification: boiling powdered Hibiscus flower in HCI and filtering, followed by addition of sodium acetate solution and conc. NH4 OH to produce violet and green colors, respectively.

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Description

This quiz covers the definition and structure of a flower, including its different parts and their functions, as well as its importance in plant identification.