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Questions and Answers
What type of flower has a superior ovary and floral parts attached below it?
What type of flower has a superior ovary and floral parts attached below it?
Which inflorescence type features flowers that are sessile along a simple undivided axis?
Which inflorescence type features flowers that are sessile along a simple undivided axis?
In which type of pollination does pollen transfer occur within the same flower?
In which type of pollination does pollen transfer occur within the same flower?
Which of the following describes a perfect or bisexual flower?
Which of the following describes a perfect or bisexual flower?
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What is the primary function of petals in flowers?
What is the primary function of petals in flowers?
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Which term is used to describe a flower that lacks one or more of the four main whorls?
Which term is used to describe a flower that lacks one or more of the four main whorls?
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Which type of flower has an inferior ovary and floral parts emerging from its top?
Which type of flower has an inferior ovary and floral parts emerging from its top?
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Which of the following is NOT a common agent of pollination?
Which of the following is NOT a common agent of pollination?
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What type of pollinated flowers typically feature showy petals and produce nectar?
What type of pollinated flowers typically feature showy petals and produce nectar?
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Which type of flower has both male and female reproductive structures on separate plants?
Which type of flower has both male and female reproductive structures on separate plants?
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What does the stigma of a flower represent?
What does the stigma of a flower represent?
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What is the role of the ovary in a flower?
What is the role of the ovary in a flower?
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In which type of inflorescence do flowers open from the outermost to the innermost?
In which type of inflorescence do flowers open from the outermost to the innermost?
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Which structure in the flower is responsible for producing pollen?
Which structure in the flower is responsible for producing pollen?
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Which inflorescence type has flowers that spring from the same apex of the peduncle?
Which inflorescence type has flowers that spring from the same apex of the peduncle?
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Which flower type has uniformly shaped petals that radiate symmetrically from the center?
Which flower type has uniformly shaped petals that radiate symmetrically from the center?
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Study Notes
Flower Structure
- Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants.
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Non-essential parts:
- Peduncle: The flower stalk.
- Receptacle: The base of the flower that bears the other floral parts.
- Sepals (Calyx): Green, leaf-like structures that protect the developing bud.
- Petals (Corolla): Colorful, often showy structures that attract pollinators.
- Perianth: The combined calyx and corolla.
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Essential parts:
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Stamens (male): Collectively called the androecium.
- Filament: The stalk of the stamen.
- Anther: A sac-like structure that produces pollen grains. Pollen grains contain two sperm cells and a pollen tube cell.
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Pistil/Carpel (female): Collectively called the gynoecium.
- Carpels: The basic units of the gynoecium that can be free (distinct) or fused (connate).
- Pistil: A single carpel or fused carpels.
- Stigma: The sticky portion of the pistil where pollen lands.
- Style: The stalk of the carpel connecting the stigma to the ovary.
- Ovary: The lower, swollen portion of the pistil that contains ovules.
- Ovule: The structure within the ovary that develops into a seed after fertilization.
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Stamens (male): Collectively called the androecium.
Flower Types
- Complete flowers: Possess all four floral parts (sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels).
- Incomplete flowers: Lack one or more of the four main floral whorls.
- Perfect/Bisexual flowers: Have both stamens and carpels.
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Imperfect/Unisexual flowers: Have either stamens or carpels, but not both.
- Staminate flowers: Contain only stamens.
- Pistillate/Carpellate flowers: Contain only carpels.
- Regular flowers: Petals are of similar shape and radiate from the center, equidistant from each other.
- Irregular flowers: Petals are of dissimilar shapes, do not radiate from the center, and are not equidistant from each other.
Plant Types
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Monoecious plants: Have male and female reproductive structures on the same plant, but not in the same flower.
- Examples: Corn (Zea mays) and Squash (Cucurbita maxima)
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Dioecious plants: Have male and female reproductive organs on separate plants.
- Examples: Papaya (Carica papaya)
Ovary Position
- Inferior ovary: The ovary is found below the point of attachment of the floral parts.
- Superior ovary: The ovary is found above the point of attachment of the floral parts.
Flower Types (Based on Ovary Position)
- Hypogynous flower: Floral parts are attached below the ovary; has a superior ovary.
- Epigynous flower: Ovary is embedded, and floral parts appear to arise from the top of the ovary; has an inferior ovary.
- Perigynous flower: Floral parts are fused, forming a structure called a hypanthium that surrounds the ovary, but is not fused to it.
Pollination
- Pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther (stamen) to the stigma (carpel).
- Self-pollination: Pollen is transferred within the same flower, or between different flowers on the same plant.
- Cross-pollination: Pollen is transferred to a flower of another plant.
Agents of Pollination
- Wind: Wind can carry pollen to other flowers.
- Water: Some plants are pollinated by water.
- Animals: Insects, birds, and bats are common pollinators.
Flower Adaptations for Pollination
- Animal-pollinated flowers: Often have showy petals, scent, and nectar to attract pollinators.
- Wind-pollinated flowers: Typically inconspicuous, lacking large, colorful petals, scent, and nectar. They have large or feathery stigmas to catch pollen.
Inflorescence: Flower Arrangements
- Spike: Sessile flowers along an undivided axis/rachis.
- Raceme: Similar to a spike, but flowers are pedicelled.
- Panicle: The axis is divided into branched structures, each bearing flowers.
- Umbel: Pedicelled flowers radiating from the apex of the peduncle.
- Head (Capitate): Sessile flowers clustered in a globe-shaped mass.
- Corymb: Branches from different starting points reach the same level, with outer flowers opening first.
- Cyme: Flowers develop terminally, and new growth arises from the side, resulting in the oldest flowers at the top.
- Fascicle: Flowers are sessile or pedicelled and densely clustered, often in the leaf axil.
- Catkin (Ament): Slim, cylindrical flower cluster, often drooping and dense, with scaly spikes.
- Spadix: Fleshy, often dry spike with small flowers surrounded by an enveloping structure called a spathe.
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