A flower may be defined as a modified shoot highly condensed. It develops from the floral buds.
Parts of a flower: Flowers vary in size, shape and colour but all flowers have the same basic parts.
The main parts are :
(i) Pedicel and thalamus
(ii) Calyx or sepals
(iii) Corolla or petals
(iv) Androecium or stamens
(v) Gynoecium or carpels.
(i) Pedicel: A flower is borne on a stalk called pedicel. The upper swollen part of pedicel is called thalamus. It bears all the four whorls of a flower.
(ii) Sepals: It is the 1 st outermost whorl of a flower. It consists of leaf like structures called sepals. Sepals are generally green, manufacture food and supply it to other floral parts.
(iii) Petals: It is 2nd whorl of a flower. Each segment of the petal is known as a petal. These are usually brightly coloured due to presence of pigments. The bright colour, sweet smell and nectar attract the insects which in turn help in pollination.
(iv) Androecium or stamens: It is the third floral whorl which is composed of one or more male reproductive organs called stamens. Each stamen consists of a thin stalk or filament and two lobe head called the anther. Each anther lobe has two pollen-sacs which are filled with pollen grains.
(v) Gynoecium or Carpels: It is the innermost floral whorl which is composed of one or more female reproductive organs called carpels. Each carpel consists of three parts : Stigma, Style and Ovary.
