Basic Overview: Parts of a Flower

Flowers are present on nearly every continent and in every country of the world. Whether they're grown in a pot on a kitchen windowsill, grown in a garden or growing out in the wild; they're an important part of the world's eco-system. Currently, the University of the West Indies estimates that there are more than 250,000 different species of flowers in the world. This article will give you a basic overview of the flower, from root to flower.

Roots

The roots of a flowering plant are located at the base of the plant. Here, the roots absorb water from the soil that is sent to the rest of the plant. Without a way to collect water, flowers would not survive.

Stem

The stem, also known scientifically as the peduncle, connects the roots to the leaves and the flower head of the plant. This part of the flower also works together with the roots, carrying water upward and into the other parts of the plant.

Sepals

Located at the top of the stem, beneath the flower head, are leaves known as sepals. These leaves are smaller and green in color. Multiple sepals are referred to as the calyx of the plant.

Pistil

The pistil contains multiple parts of the flower: the ovary, ovules, style and stigma. The ovary is located at the base of the pistil, just above the sepals. The ovary contains the ovules, which are reproductive cells that will eventually become seeds once they have been fertilized by pollen.

Connected at the top of every ovary is the style, which is a tube-shaped piece that is connected to the stigma. The stigma collects pollen and transfer it through the style down to the ovary, where the seeds, or ovules, are fertilized.

Stamen

The stamen is the male parts of the flower and includes the filament and the anther. The anther produces pollen and is the male reproductive cell(s) of the flower, while the filament holds the anther up so that pollen can be collected either by the flower itself for reproduction or by insects, who will spread the pollen to other flowers for pollination.

Petals

The petals are connected to the peduncle at the receptacle of the flower. Petals can be nearly any color and are different in appearance and texture than the leaves; though individual petal appearance will vary depending entirely upon the flower species. Petals protect the male (stamen) and female (pistil) parts of the flower. They also help attract insects and animals to the flower, which in turn, helps the spreading of pollen.

Additional Information:

University of the West Indies: Flower Structure and Function

Texas A&M University: A Complete Angiosperm Flower