By: Ashley MartinAdapted by Valerie Hunt

By: Ashley MartinAdapted by Valerie Hunt

What is a flower?

A flower is the reproductive structure of an angiosperm or flowering plant.

• calyx• corolla• stamen• pistil

The calyx is the outer protection of the flower. It is made of the sepals and receptacle.

Calyxsepals

receptacle

The corolla is usually the most obvious part of the flower—the petals. Often scented and colorful, the petals attract pollinators to the flower.

Anther – holds the pollen which contains the sperm cells.

Filament- Thread-like part that supports the anthers

The stamen is the male part of the flower and is usually located inside the petals. The stamen is composed of an anther and a filament.

The carpel is the female part of the flower and is usually located in the center of the flower. The carpel is composed of a stigma, style, ovary, and ovules.

Many flowers have only one carpel. But some have many. The collective term for the carpels of a flower is pistil.

• Is the female part of the Is the female part of the flowerflower

• Can be a single pistil Can be a single pistil consisting of several fused consisting of several fused carpels (A) carpels (A)

• May contain several pistils May contain several pistils each consisting of a single each consisting of a single carpel (B)carpel (B)

• Contains the stigma, style, Contains the stigma, style, ovary and ovules.ovary and ovules.

•Stigma – The sticky surface at the top of the pistil which is the site where pollen is trapped and held.

•Style – The tube-like structure that supports the pistil

•Ovary– At the base of the pistil, contains the ovules,or the eggs of the plant.

Calyx

Corolla

Ovule

Pistil Stamen (Carpel)

Scientists classify a flowers based on these four basic parts of the flower—Calyx, corolla, stamen, and pistil.

COMPLETE flower four parts: calyx, corolla, stamen and pistil

INCOMPLETE flower Lacks any of the four parts

And…

PERFECT flower Has a pistil and a stamen—male and female Male + Female = “A Perfect Marriage”

IMPERFECT flower Has just a pistil or a stamen but NOT both.

True or False Test

Can a flower be…

Perfect and complete? TRUE

Perfect and incomplete?TRUE

Imperfect and complete?FALSE

Imperfect and incomplete?TRUE

Click on the flower to hear a little review song.

Calyx

Corolla

Ovule

Pistil Stamen (Carpel)

Let’s illustrate the “Parts of the Flower” song!