Flower Anatomy

Flower Anatomy“You may think of flowers as

decorative objects that brighten the world, but the

presence of so many flowers in the world is visible

evidence of something else – the stunning evolutionary success of angiosperms, or

flowering plants.”

Flower AnatomyFlowers are reproductive

organs that are composed of four kinds of specialized leaves:

1.Sepals2.Petals3.Stamens4.Carpel (sometimes called

the Pistil)

SepalsSepals are the

outermost circle of floral parts.

A. often green and resemble ordinary leaves

B. they protect the flower while it is developing

Rose Buds

PetalsPetals are found just inside the

sepals

~ often brightly colored~ attract insects and other pollinators (and people!) to the flower

PetalsWithin the ring of petals are the reproductive parts of the flower.

Reproductive StructuresMany flowers contain both male and female reproductive parts!

~Male parts are the stamen.

~Female parts are the carpel.

Male Parts: StamenThe stamen is composed of 2

parts:

1. Filament: long stalk that supports an anther.

2. Anther: tip of filament where the pollen is located.

Pollen is essentially the sperm of a flower so it is located on the

male part of the flower: the stamen.

Female Parts: CarpelThe Carpel is composed of 3

parts:1. Ovary: base

containing the eggs of a plant

2. Style: the stalk3. Stigma: a sticky

top used to capture pollen.

Coral Honeysuckle

Plant ReproductionOnce the stigma of the carpel

(female part) is

pollinated by pollen (sperm),

seeds can be made.

Plant ReproductionSeeds can

then be spread by animals or by the wind

to new locations to grow into

new plants!

Orange Tree Flowers

Pollinated Orange Flower