Contents
THE FLOWER: FUNCTION
The flower is the most conspicuous part of the plant. Their appeal has encouraged Man to know and possess them, developing such a human technique as gardening. But flowers have not been produced by plants for man’s sake. They are beautiful and fragrant to attract pollinators (insects, birds or bats) which play an important role in the reproductive process of pollinating.
Essentially the main function of the flower is to perpetuate the species, to produce seeds from which new plants will grow in the future.
The perianth
It is the non-reproductive section of the plant. It is formed by two different parts:
- The corolla or coloured section of the flower, where the petals, or coloured pieces, can be found. They are meant to attract the pollen carriers, so they contain perfume and nectar.
- The calyx is the green section of the flower. It is more consistent than the corolla. It is formed by green leaf- like pieces called sepals. They are meant to protect the flower bud.
Sometimes the petals and sepals show the same color. In this case, they are called tepals.
The androecium
It is the male reproductive part of the flower. We can find in it the stamens which were leaves that suffered a transformation to carry the pollen. Each stamen is divided into:
- The filament a sort of stick, carrying on top of it a “little bag” loaded with pollen.
- The anther is the “little bag” where pollen is contained.
The gynoecium
It is the female reproductive part of the flower. Is made by thecarpel, which, similar to a base-expanded bottle, stands upright in the middle of the flower. Its green color denotes it derives from a transformed leaf. It consists of three parts:
- The stigma on top of it, designed to pick up the pollen.
- The style is the connection tube between the stigma and the ovary.
- The ovary is the expanded inferior part of the carpel. It contains the ovules waiting to be fertilized by pollen.
The receptacle
It is the lower structure which supports the flower. Besides protecting floral pieces, it takes care of the ovules, keeping them apart from animals. It is shaped like a cup, and it is called receptacle. The peduncle links the flower to the stem.
Activities about flowers
Choose the following activities to prove your knowledge about flower plants:
- Activity 1
- Activity 2
- You can print a Crossword to solve it in class. Here the solution of the crossword
Test activity about tge parts of a flower
Choose the right answer in each group:
The stigma is the superior part of:
The stamen
The carpel
Correct!The calyx
The androecium is made of:
Sepals
Petals
Stamens
The corolla function is:
The reproduction
Decoration of home balconies
Insect atraction
Look at the picture and choose the answer/s:
Arrow A points to the filament of a stamen
The arrow A points to a pistil
Arrow A points to the anther of a stamen
Arrow B points to a petiole
Arrow B points to the filament of a stamen
Arrow B points to an ovary
The pollen is where the arrow A points
To know more about “The flowers” 
More information about plant cultivation.
