Plant Structure
(Flowers)
BOT 1P: Lecture 12
Flower
• A group of leaves modified or adapted
for reproduction in the angiosperms
• Function: facilitates the important
events of gamete formation and fusion
ANGIOSPERMS- denoting seed plants in which
the ovules, or young seeds, are enclosed within
the ovary (that part of the pistil specialized for
seed production)
GAMETE - are reproductive cells that unite during
sexual reproduction to form a new cell called a
zygote
Flowers are the reproductive structure of plants
aside from fruit
A. Gymnospermae - seed bearing plants which
do not produce flowers
B. Angiospermae - seed bearing plants which
produces flowers
Floral Morphology
Floral Morphology
A. Sepals
• enclose the outer
flower parts in the bud
• generally green in color
and all the sepals
taken collectively
constitute the calyx
Collectively, the sepals are called a
calyx.
Usually green; leaflike structures that
protect the flower, as it forms and
emerges.
Sometimes they are colorful.
Floral Morphology
B. Petals
• conspicuous, colored,
attractive part of a flower
• The petals of a flower
considered as a group or
unit and usually of a color
other than green; the whorl
of petals
when taken together, constitute the
corolla
Function: Attract pollinators
Sepals + Petals (without the
reproductive part = PERIANTH)
No clear distinction if it is a petal or
sepal= TEPALS
Floral Morphology
C. Stamens
• male part of the flower lying
inner to the corolla
• Each stamen consists of:
1. filament (is one of the male
reproductive parts of the
plant)
2. another (part of the stamen
and produces the pollen)
the grouping of stamens is called
Androecium
Stamens - they are usually
arranged around the female part
Filament - holds up the anther
Floral Morphology
D. Pistil
• female part of the flower
which comprises the central
whorl of modified floral leaves
• Each pistil consists of:
1. Ovary
2. Style
3. Stigma
Pistil or carpel
collectively called the Gynoecium
bears ovules (premature seeds)
1. Ovary (bears ovules and ripens
into a fruit)
2. Style (holds the stigma above the
ovary/ called as the neck of the
pistil)
3. Stigma (has a sticky surface use to
catch the pollen)
Floral Morphology
E. Receptacle
• enlarged end of the
flower stem or stalk
• part where the
sepals, petals,
stamens and pistils
attached
Flower stem - pedicel
Receptacle - The place on the stem where floral organs
attach and originate.
Variations in Floral Structure
A. Based on flower parts present:
1. Complete flower
2. Incomplete flower
Variations in Floral Structure
1. Complete flower
• “Complete flowers contain both the
male and female parts as well as
sepals and petals.”
• A flower that has all four whorls of
floral parts is said to be a complete
flower (such as the hibiscus and the
lily)
Note: (stamen and pistil)
Have all 4 basic parts:
Sepals, petals, stamens and pistil
Variations in Floral Structure
2. Incomplete flower
• “Incomplete flower - One which lacks
any one or more of these parts; calyx,
corolla, stamens, and pistils”
• An incomplete flower lacks any one or
more of these parts (such as those of
elms, willows, oaks, and plantains).
Note:
Flowers that are missing one of the four
basic parts
Variations in Floral Structure
B. Based on sexuality of
the flower:
[Link] flower
(bisexual/hermaphroditic)
2. Imperfect flower
(unisexual flower)
• With or without sepals and petals, a flower that
has both stamen and pistil is called a Perfect
Flower. Thus, all complete flowers are perfect,
but not all perfect flowers are complete. In
contrast, flowers that have only stamens or only
pistils are called Imperfect Flower.
• Perfect - Flowers that have both male and
female parts
• Imperfect - Flowers that lack one of the sex
structures
Plant Sources:
• Monoeicious Plants - staminate and
pistilate flowers are present on the
same plant as in the squash and the
corn
• Dioecious Plants - staminate and
pistillate flowers are born on separate
plants as in papaya
Variations in Floral Structure
C. Based on size and shape of floral
parts:
1. Regular flower
2. Irregular flower
Types:
a. bilabiate
b. Papillionaceous
c. Caesalpinaceous
d. orchidaceous
Types of Irregular Flower
A. Bilabiate
• present irregular
corollas with two very
distinctive lip
• Corrola - collection
of petals
B. Papilionaceous
• the upper petal is
outside the lateral
petals in the bud
C. Caesalpiniaceous
• Flower with 5 petals
D. Orchidaceous
• three sepals and three
petals, with one petal,
usually the lower one,
modified to form the
very different and
variable lip
Variations in Floral Structure
D. Based on floral symmetry:
1. Actinomorphic / radially symmetrical
flower
2. Zygomorphic/ bilaterally symmetrical
flower
1. Actinomorphic flower
• parts radiate from the center
and any line drawn from
through center of the flower
• this divides the flower into
two similar halves
2. Zygomorphic flower
• parts do not radiate from
the center and only one
line divides the flower
into two similar halves
Floral Symmetry
Variations in Floral Structure
E. Based on the position of the ovary
1. Hypogeneous Flower - superior ovary
2. Epigynous Flower - inferior ovary
3. Perigynous Flower - half- superior
ovary
1. Hypogeneous Flower - ovary situated
on the receptacle above the points of
origin of the perianth and the stamens,
this ovary is said to be supe.
Receptacle= Enlagrged end of the stalk
2. Epigynous Flower – the stamens and
the perianth are attached above the
ovary which is said to be an inferior
ovary
Variations in Floral Structure
F. Based on union of the floral parts:
1. Connation (developmental fusion of organs of
the same type)
a. Synsepalous (All the sepals of a flower are
fused into a cup or tube, the fused portion is
the calyx tube and any non fused tips are
the calyx lobes)
b. Sympetalous (All the petals of a flower are
fused into a cup, tube, or other shape)
c. Synandrous (Stamens are fused in an
unspecified manner)
d. Syncarpous Flower (Carpels are
fused together to form a compound
ovary)
2. Adnation – when different floral parts
fused
Variations in Floral Structure
G. Based on number of flower parts:
1. Dicotyledonous – flower parts are in
4’s or 5’s or in multiples of 4 & 5
2. Monocotyledonous – flower parts are
in 3’s or in multiples of 3
Inflorescence
Flower-bearing branch or
system of branches:
[Link] – main axis has
short branches or pedicels,
each of which terminates in a
flower
example: gladiolus
[Link] – branched raceme
example : rice
Gladiolus Flower
[Link] – similar to raceme but
the flowers on the axis are
sessile(without pedicel)
example: bottle brush
4. Catkin – spike which is
hanging or drooping and
bearing only staminate or
pistillate flowers
example: buntot ng pusa
(Chenille- buntot ng pusa)
Bottle brush and Chenille Flower
5. Umbel – short axis and all
the pedicillate flowers radiate
from the apex to the axis
example: chinese bamboo
6. Spadix – fleshy spike
bearing both staminate and
pistillate flowers surrounded
by a petalloid bract
examples: anthurium & calla
lilly
7. Corymb – pedicel are
unequal length but all the
flowers are on the same level,
younger flowers at the center
have short pedicel, while the
outer, but older flowers are
longer
example: caballero
8. Cyme –similar to the corymb
but the inner flowers are older
example: santan
9. Fascicle – pedicelled or
sessile flowers are crowded
on one side of the stem
example: birds of paradise
10. Composite Flowers –
group of small flowers so
arranged to give the
appearance o a single flower,
the characteristics grouping
of flowers is called the head
example: daisy, sunflower
and chrysanthemeum
Events involved in the
Reproductive Cycle of
Angiosperms
• Male gametophytes or pollen grains
develop in the anther which consists of
four elongated and connected lobes called
the pollen sacs
• Each pollen sac contains a mass of
dividing cells called the microsporocytes
or microspore mother cells
1. Microspore Mother Cell (2n or diploid)
divides by meiosis to form 4 microspores
(n or haploid)
2. Each microspore divides by mitosis to
form 2 cells – the tube cell and the
generative cell
3. The generative cell divides again by
mitosis to form two sperm cells
Note: mature pollen grain has three cells
(1 tube cell and 2 sperm cells all of which
are haploid or n)
• Microspore mother cell
(microsporocyte) undergo Meiosis
1 producing 4 microspores
• each microspore develops into Male
2 gametophyte (pollen grains)
• This pollen grains undergo mitosis
3
• A generative cell (sperm cell) and
4 vegetative cell was produced (pollen tube)
• The female gametophytes or embryo
sac develop within the ovule which arises
as a dome-shaped mass of cells on the
surface of the placenta, the attachment of
the ovule to the carpel
• The outer cells of the dome develop two
protective layers, the integuments
• These integuments do not, however; fused
at the apex of the ovule thus leaving a
small opening, the micropyle
• One of the internal dividing cells in the
ovule enlarges to become the
megasporocyte or megaspore mother cell
1. megaspore mother cell (2n) divides by
mitosis to form 4 megaspore (n)
2. three of these, the ones nearest the
micropyle degenerates
3. the one farthest from the micropyle
enlargest greatly and develops into
mature embryo sac
The Sequences Of Events In The
Maturation Of The Embryo Sac:
1. Division of the nucleus forming a
binucleated cell
2. Migration of the two nuclei to the
opposite cell
3. Division of the nudeo to form a cell with
4 nuclei
4. Division of each of the 4 nuclei to form
8 nuclei
5. Migration of one nucleus from the two
sets of 4 nuclei on the opposite ends of
the cell towards the center
6. Nuclei with their surrounding cytoplasm
form cells
Mature Embryo sac formed has
eight cells namely:
1. One egg cell associated with two
synergid cells at the micropylar end (3
cells sometimes referred to as the egg
apparatus)
2. The endosperm mother cell with its 2
polar nuclei at the center
Megaspore mother cell (megasporocyte)
Meiosis
↓
4 megaspore
↓
One megaspore develops
↓
female gametophyte (embryo sac)
↓
Egg /2 synergids /2 polar n 3 antipodals
Pollination
• Transfer of pollen grains from the anther
to the stigma
• Types:
1. Self-pollination
2. Cross-pollination
Pollination
1. Self-pollination – transfer of pollen grains
from the anther to the stigma of the same
flower, or from the anther of one flower to
the stigma of another flower on the same
plant
2. Cross-pollination – transfer of pollen
grains from the anther of a flower on one
plant to the stigma of a flower on another
plant
Types of Flowers
Types of cross pollination:
1. Entomophilous flowers
2. Anemophilous flowers
3. Hydrophilous flowers
4. Zoophilous flowers
Types of Flowers
1. Entomophilous Flowers – insect
pollinated flowers
Modifications:
• brightly colored
• scented
• with sticky or spiny pollen
• sticky stigmas
• produces nectars
Note: This is the most common type
of cross pollination among plants
Types of Flowers
2. Anemophilous flowers –
wind pollinated flowers
Modifications:
• inconspicuous flower
without scent
• with small and dry pollen
grains
• expanded stigmas
• do not produced nectar
3. Hydrophilous Flowers –
water pollinated flowers
4. Zoophilous Flowers –
animal pollinated flowers
• Modifications are similar to
wind pollinated flowers
• Modifications are similar to
entomophilous flowers
Germination of the Pollen grains
Steps:
1. upon reaching the stigma, the
vegetative cell develops to form the
pollen tube
2. the pollen tube together with the two
spem cells, enters the micropyle of the
ovule
3. the double fertilization occurs
Fertilization
• Double fertilization
• one sperm nucleus unites with the egg
nucleus to form a diploid zygote or
fertilized egg
• the other sperm nucleus unites with the
polar nuclei of the endosperm mother cell
to form the primary endosperm cell which
is triploid (3n)
Changes that occur after
Fertlization
1. Development of zygote to form the
embryo plant in the seed
2. Development of the primary endosperm
cell to form the endosperm, the reserve
food supply of the seed
3. Develop of the integuments to form the
seed coat
4. Development of the ovary tissue to which
the ovule or ovules are attached to form
the fruit
5. Possible stimulation of some accessory
flower parts, to increase the growth and
incorporation into the fruit
SUMMARY
• FLORAL MORPHOLOGY
Plant Sources:
A. Sepals
• Monoeicious Plants
B. Petals
C. Stamens
• Dioecious Plants
D. Pistil
E. Receptacle C. Based on size and
• VARIATIONS IN FLORAL
shape of floral parts:
STRUCTURE 1. Regular flower
A. Based on flower parts 2. Irregular flower
present: Types:
1. Complete flower a. bilabiate
2. Incomplete flower
b. Papillionaceous
B. Based on sexuality of the
flower:
c. Caesalpinaceous
[Link] flower d. orchidaceous
2. Imperfect flower
E. Based on the position of the • INFLORESCENCE
ovary
1. Hypogeneous Flower
Flower-bearing branch or
2. Epigynous Flower system of branches:
3. Perigynous Flower [Link]
F. Based on union of the floral [Link]
parts:
1. Connation [Link]
a) Synsepalous [Link]
b) Sympetalous 5. Umbel
c) Synandrous
d) Syncarpous Flower
6. Spadix
2. Adnation 7. Corymb
G. Based on number of flower 8. Cyme
parts:
1. Dicotyledonous
9. Fascicle
2. Monocotyledonous 10. Composite Flowers
• Types of Pollination: • EVENTS INVOLVED IN
1. Self-pollination THE REPRODUCTIVE
2. Cross-pollination CYCLE OF
ANGIOSPERMS
- Male gametophytes or
• Types of cross pollen grains
pollination:
- The Female
1. Entomophilous flowers gametophytes or embryo
2. Anemophilous flowers sac
3. Hydrophilous flowers
4. Zoophilous flowers
