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The Beauty Of Flowers

The Beauty of Flowers

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Page 1: The Beauty of Flowers

The Beauty

Of

Flowers

Page 2: The Beauty of Flowers

IntroductionA flower, sometimes known as a bloom or A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or

blossom, is the , is the reproductive structure found in structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also called angiosperms). The , also called angiosperms). The biological function of a flower is to effect biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs. Flowers may the union of sperm with eggs. Flowers may facilitate outcrossing (fusion of sperm and eggs facilitate outcrossing (fusion of sperm and eggs from different individuals in a population) or allow from different individuals in a population) or allow selfing (fusion of sperm and egg from the same selfing (fusion of sperm and egg from the same flower). Some flowers produce flower). Some flowers produce diaspores without without fertilization (fertilization (parthenocarpy). Flowers contain ). Flowers contain sporangia and are the site where gametophytes sporangia and are the site where gametophytes develop. Flowers give rise to fruit and seeds. Many develop. Flowers give rise to fruit and seeds. Many flowers have evolved to be attractive to animals, so flowers have evolved to be attractive to animals, so as to cause them to be vectors for the transfer of as to cause them to be vectors for the transfer of pollen.pollen.

In addition to facilitating the reproduction of In addition to facilitating the reproduction of flowering plants, flowers have long been admired flowering plants, flowers have long been admired and used by humans to beautify their environment, and used by humans to beautify their environment, but also as objects of romance, ritual, religion, but also as objects of romance, ritual, religion, medicine and as a source of food.medicine and as a source of food.

Page 3: The Beauty of Flowers

LotusNelumbo nuciferaNelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names , known by a number of names

including including Indian LotusIndian Lotus, , Sacred LotusSacred Lotus, , Bean of Bean of IndiaIndia, or simply , or simply LotusLotus, is a plant in the , is a plant in the monogeneric family Nelumbonaceae. The Linnaean binomial . The Linnaean binomial Nelumbo nucifera (Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) is the currently ) is the currently recognized name for this species, which has been recognized name for this species, which has been classified under the classified under the former names, Nelumbium , Nelumbium speciosum (speciosum (Willd.) and ) and Nymphaea nelumbo, among nelumbo, among others. Names other than Nelumbo nucifera (others. Names other than Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) ) are obsolete synonyms and should not be used in are obsolete synonyms and should not be used in current works. This plant is an aquatic perennial. current works. This plant is an aquatic perennial. Under favorable circumstances its seeds may remain Under favorable circumstances its seeds may remain viable for many years.viable for many years.

A common misconception is referring to the A common misconception is referring to the lotus as a waterlily (lotus as a waterlily (Nymphaea), an entirely different ), an entirely different plant as can be seen from the center of the flower, plant as can be seen from the center of the flower, which clearly lacks the structure that goes on to form which clearly lacks the structure that goes on to form the distinctive circular seed pod in the Nelumbo the distinctive circular seed pod in the Nelumbo nucifera.nucifera.

Waterlilies come in various colors, whereas the Waterlilies come in various colors, whereas the lotus has flowers ranging in hues of white to hot pink.lotus has flowers ranging in hues of white to hot pink.

Page 4: The Beauty of Flowers

RoseA A roserose is a woody is a woody perennial of the of the genus

Rosa, within the family Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over . There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and . Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa. Species, America, and northwest Africa. Species, cultivars and and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance. Rose plants range in size from and fragrance. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach 7 meters in height. Different species hybridize 7 meters in height. Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of the wide range of garden roses..[1]

The name rose comes from French, itself from The name rose comes from French, itself from Latin rosa, which was perhaps borrowed from Latin rosa, which was perhaps borrowed from Oscan, , from from Greek, related to , related to Old Persian wrd-, wrd-, Avestan varəda, varəda, Sogdian ward, ward, Parthian wâr, wâr, Armenian vard. vard.[2][3]

Page 5: The Beauty of Flowers

SunflowerSunflowerSunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant

native to the native to the Americas that possesses a large that possesses a large inflorescence (flowering head). The sunflower got (flowering head). The sunflower got its name from its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape its name from its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. The and image is often used to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads of toothed, rough leaves and circular heads of flowers. The heads consist of 1,000-2,000 flowers. The heads consist of 1,000-2,000 individual flowers joined together by a receptacle individual flowers joined together by a receptacle base.base.From the Americas, sunflower seeds were brought From the Americas, sunflower seeds were brought to Europe in the 16th century, where, along with to Europe in the 16th century, where, along with sunflower oil, they became a widespread cooking , they became a widespread cooking ingredient. Sunflower leaves can be used as cattle ingredient. Sunflower leaves can be used as cattle feed, while the stems contain a fibre which may feed, while the stems contain a fibre which may be used in paper production.be used in paper production.

Page 6: The Beauty of Flowers

ConclusionPlants cannot move from one location to another, thus Plants cannot move from one location to another, thus

many flowers have evolved to attract animals to many flowers have evolved to attract animals to transfer pollen between individuals in dispersed transfer pollen between individuals in dispersed populations. populations. Birds and and beesbees have color vision, enabling have color vision, enabling them to seek out "colorful" flowers. Some flowers have them to seek out "colorful" flowers. Some flowers have patterns, called patterns, called nectar guidesnectar guides, that show pollinators , that show pollinators where to look for nectar; they may be visible only where to look for nectar; they may be visible only under under ultravioletultraviolet light, which is visible to bees and light, which is visible to bees and some other insects. Flowers also attract pollinators by some other insects. Flowers also attract pollinators by scentscent and some of those scents are pleasant to our and some of those scents are pleasant to our sense of smell. Not all flower scents are appealing to sense of smell. Not all flower scents are appealing to humans, a number of flowers are pollinated by insects humans, a number of flowers are pollinated by insects that are attracted to rotten flesh and have flowers that that are attracted to rotten flesh and have flowers that smell like dead animals. Flowers pollinated by night smell like dead animals. Flowers pollinated by night visitors, including bats and moths, are likely to visitors, including bats and moths, are likely to concentrate on scent to attract pollinators and most concentrate on scent to attract pollinators and most such flowers are white.such flowers are white.

- Presented bySaikat

Rakshit.