BOT 3 Laboratory Hand-out
Exercise 9. Introduction to Magnoliophyta
Division Magnoliophyta
General Characteristics
- true roots, stem and megaphylls
- vessel elements, sieve tube elements and companion cells
- flowers as reproductive organ
- trinucleated male gametophyte (pollen grains)
- eight nucleated female gametophyte (embryo sac)
- ovule having two pairs of integuments (bitegmic)
- exhibit double fertilization
- bear fruit enclosing the seed
*Classification of flowering plants lies on their floral characteristics
Floral Morphology
receptacle
peduncle
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BOT 3 Laboratory Hand-out
a. Non-essential (Sterile) Parts – accessory parts for attracting pollinators
Petals – corolla
perianth
Sepals – calyx
b. Essential (Fertile) Parts
Stamen – anther and filament ---- androecium
Parts of the anther:
Attachment of filament
Pollen sac
Pollen grain
Tapetum
Lilium anther (40x)
Pistil – stigma, style and ovary ----- gynoecium
Parts of the Ovary:
locule
placenta
carpel
Cross-section of Lilium ovary (40x)
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BOT 3 Laboratory Hand-out
Floral Variations
a. Presence or absence of floral parts
Complete – having the 4 floral whorls
Incomplete – any of the 4 whorls is lacking
b. Presence or absence of essential parts
Perfect – flowers having stamens and pistils (bisexual)
Imperfect – unisexual; either staminate or pistillate
o Monoecious - Both flowers on one plant
o Dioecious - On different plants
c. Similarity in shape and distance of floral parts
Regular – all parts of a floral whorl are similar in shape and distance from the receptacle
Irregular – one or more members of a whorl are dissimilar
d. Symmetry
Actinomorphic – radially symmetrical
Zygomorphic – bilaterally symmetrical
e. Attachment of petals
Apopetalous – each petal is attached at its based to the receptacle
Gamopetalous – petals are fused forming corolla tube
f. Arrangement of floral parts
Whorled – all floral parts are in whorls
Spiral – floral parts are in spiral arrangement
g. Position of the ovary with respect to other floral parts
Superior ovary – hypogynous flowers
Inferior ovary – epigynous flowers
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BOT 3 Laboratory Hand-out
h. Position of floral parts with respect to the ovary
Hypogynous – other parts are attached below the ovary
Epigynous – other parts are attached above the ovary
Perigynous – parts meet halfway in the ovary
Types of inflorescence
a. spike – sessile florets eg. Peperomia
b. catkin – inverted spike eg. Acalypha
c. spadix – spike with spathe eg. Typhonium
d. raceme- pedicillate florets eg. Caesalpinia
e. panicle- branching pedicels eg. Panicum
f. cyme – florets occur in odd numbers and the terminal floret
matures first eg. Jasminum
g. corymb – flat-topped inflorescence; unequal lengths of
pedicels eg. Jathropa podagrica
h. umbel - equal lengths of pedicels arising from one point
eg. Allium
i. head – pedicels having equal lengths and flat base
eg. Tagetes
Floral Events
a. Sporogenesis
Microsporogenesis – production of microspores via meiosis
sporogenous tissue microsporocyte 4 microspores (n)
meiosis
Megasporogenesis – production of megaspores via meiosis
nucellus megasporocyte 4 megaspores (n)
meiosis
b. Gametogenesis
Microgametogenesis – formation of two sperm nuclei and 1 pollen tube nucleus inside the
pollen grain (gametophyte) via mitosis in the microspore
With tube nucleus and
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BOT 3 Laboratory Hand-out
Megagametogenesis - formation of 3 antipodals, 2 polar nuclei, 2 synergids and 1 egg nucleus
inside the embryo sac (gametophyte) via mitosis in the megaspore
c. Pollination
Transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma via pollinating agents
d. Double Fertilization
Sperm nucleus (n) + egg nucleus (n) -------- zygote (2n)
Sperm nucleus (n) + 2 polar nuclei (2n) ---- endosperm (3n)
Accesory Floral Parts
1. Involucre – leaf-like structure supporting cluster of flowers or inflorescence eg. Tagetes erecta
2. Nectaries – structure producing sugary fluid nectar eg. Hibiscus; Ixora
3. Corona – platform wherein pollinators like insects can land or rest on
eg. Calotropis gigantea; Allamanda cathartica
4. Semaphylls – leaf-like structures functioning as attractants to pollinators
Two types:
a. Intrafloral – part of the flower eg. Petals and sepals
b. Extrafloral – not part of the flower; originated from leaf eg. Bracts, spadix
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