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What are the Different Parts of a Flower?

R. Kayne
R. Kayne

Flowers allow certain plants called angiosperms to reproduce, so it's not surprising that botanists refer to different parts of a flower in terms of male and female reproductive organs.

Female Reproductive System: The carpel or pistil is in the very center of the flower and contains the female organs. There may be one or more pistils. This part of a flower resembles a bowling pin in shape with the rounded lower base being the ovary. Inside the ovary are reproductive cells or ovule. Coming up from the ovary the pistil narrows into a neck called the style, and the knob at the top of the neck is the stigma. This part of a flower is sticky. When pollen grains adhere to the stigma via fertilization or pollination from bees, wind or any other means, pollen tubes grow inside the style or neck, and travel down to burrow in the ovary or base. Here the sperm fertilizes an ovum or reproductive egg cell (the singular of ovule). Eventually the ovum develops into a seed.

Some plants don't have to rely on chance for fertilization as they also contain the different parts of a flower that make up the male reproductive organs. These organs produce pollen.

Cloves, which have a long calyx that leads to four petals.
Cloves, which have a long calyx that leads to four petals.

Male Reproductive System: The stamen is that part of a flower that looks like a thin hair with a follicle on top. Usually there are several stamens surrounding the pistil(s). The hair is called the filament and the follicle is the anther where pollen is produced. The filament and anther together make up the stamen.

Flowers that have both the male and female reproductive organs are called perfect flowers while those that only have one or the other are imperfect flowers.

Flowers produce nectar to attract pollinators, like hummingbirds.
Flowers produce nectar to attract pollinators, like hummingbirds.

In addition to the pistil (female organs) and stamen (male organs) the outermost whorl is made of petals, while the small, delicate leaves at the base of the petals are the sepals. The sepals are collectively called the calyx. Below the calyx is the stem or peduncle.

Flowers that have pistil, stamens, petals and sepals are called complete flowers. Flowers that lack one or more of these parts are called incomplete flowers.

Petals are the part of the flower that people smell.
Petals are the part of the flower that people smell.

Flowers that rely on pollinators like hummingbirds and bees commonly produce nectar to attract them and bright colors to call attention. Birds and bees possess color vision and some flowers even have nectar guides -- patterns that show up clearly in the ultraviolet range, visible to bees but not humans. When hummingbirds reach deep into the flower to get nectar, or when bees explore the blossom, pollen grains adhere to the animals to be transferred to other flowers, and pollen from other flowers gets deposited. Hence, pollination occurs.

Flowers have various parts that are considered male or female.
Flowers have various parts that are considered male or female.

Aside from the standard blossom described above, there are other types of flowers, like composite flowers. The sunflower and daisy are two common examples. Composite flowers are so named because they are actually a composition of dozens of tiny flowers — two types — that are organized to look like a single flower! The center of a sunflower or a daisy is made up of scores of miniature flowers packed next to each other called disk flowers, while each petal of the sunflower or daisy is a ray flower. Together the ray and disk flowers form many common blossoms. Alternately, dandelions have heads that are made only of ray flowers, while thistles have heads composed only of disk flowers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main parts of a typical flower?

Potatoes are monocots, a type of angiosperm.
Potatoes are monocots, a type of angiosperm.

The main parts of a typical flower include the petals, which are often colorful and attract pollinators; the sepals, which protect the bud before it opens; the stamens, which are the male reproductive organs producing pollen; and the pistil or carpels, which are the female reproductive parts that receive pollen and develop seeds.

How do the stamens and pistils function in reproduction?

The stamens, consisting of anthers and filaments, produce and release pollen grains containing male gametes. The pistil, made up of the stigma, style, and ovary, receives the pollen on the stigma. Pollen travels down the style to the ovary where fertilization occurs, leading to the development of seeds within the ovary.

What role do petals play in a flower's life cycle?

Petals are crucial in attracting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds with their vibrant colors and sometimes fragrances. They act as a visual signal and landing platform for pollinators, which in turn facilitate the transfer of pollen from one flower to another, aiding in the plant's reproductive process.

Can you explain what sepals are and their purpose?

Sepals are the outermost parts of a flower, often green and leaf-like, forming the calyx. Their primary purpose is to protect the developing flower bud from environmental damage and desiccation. They encase the bud before it opens and sometimes remain after the flower has bloomed to provide ongoing support and protection.

What is the difference between complete and incomplete flowers?

Complete flowers contain all four main floral parts: sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils. In contrast, incomplete flowers lack one or more of these parts. For example, a flower without stamens is considered incomplete and is also referred to as pistillate or female, while one lacking pistils is staminate or male.

Are there any flowers that do not have petals?

Yes, there are flowers without petals, known as apetalous flowers. These flowers may have evolved to not produce petals as a way to conserve energy or because they do not rely on attracting pollinators. Wind-pollinated plants, such as grasses, often have apetalous flowers that go unnoticed due to their lack of showy petals.

Discussion Comments

Charlie89

As a former biology teacher, you would be amazed at some of the answers you get to the question,

"Which of the following flower parts develops into a fruit?"

I've had people tell me everything from, "Trick question -- flowers don't make fruit!" to the petals to the root.

Crazy what people come up with!

EarlyForest

Can anybody tell me which of the parts of a hibiscus flower turn into seeds? I have this assignment that shows me a picture of a hibiscus, and just poses the question:

"Which of the following flowers parts develops into a seed?"

I had googled "parts of a flower" pictures, but all I got were a bunch of parts of a flower worksheets for kids -- can somebody give me an adult-version answer?

Thanks so much!

Planch

Thank you so much for this article -- It was just a godsend for my daughter's "Parts of a Flower" worksheet. You think that you know all there is to know about flowers, and then your kid comes home asking you to draw a detailed diagram of the "male" parts of a flower -- I didn't even know flowers had male parts!

I know that this site usually doesn't do this, but I think the only possible way this article could be improved could have been to add in a link to a picture of the parts of a flower, or even a parts of a flower diagram for kids -- that would be fantastic for parents like me!

anon79756

thank you for helping me learn. from kaliegh

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    • Cloves, which have a long calyx that leads to four petals.
      By: bergamont
      Cloves, which have a long calyx that leads to four petals.
    • Flowers produce nectar to attract pollinators, like hummingbirds.
      By: Steve Byland
      Flowers produce nectar to attract pollinators, like hummingbirds.
    • Petals are the part of the flower that people smell.
      By: Eléonore H
      Petals are the part of the flower that people smell.
    • Flowers have various parts that are considered male or female.
      By: Vidady
      Flowers have various parts that are considered male or female.
    • Potatoes are monocots, a type of angiosperm.
      By: Natika
      Potatoes are monocots, a type of angiosperm.