Practical 2: Flowering Plants

• pedicel

  stalk of the flower that attaches it to the stem
• receptacle

  end of the pedicel and the central base of the flower
• sepals


  outer leaf-like structures that enclose the flower when it is immature; in some species, the sepals look like petals
• calyx

  all the sepals together
• petals

  broad and brightly colored structures that attract pollinators
• corolla

  all the petals together
• stamens

  male parts which consist of the anther, a football-shaped structure that bears the pollen grains, and the filament, which is thin and stalk-like
• androecium

  all the stamens together
• carpels

  female parts, consisting of the ovary, style, and stigma
• ovary


  swollen structure that contains the ovules
• stigma

  sticky broadened tip
• gynoecium

  all the carpels together
• pericarp

  fruit wall that develops from the wall of the ovary; characteristics of the pericarp help classify fruit as dry or fleshy
• seed

  contains embryonic plant and stored food for the embryo's development
• cotyledons

  parts of the seed that help in nourishing the growing embryo
• dormant embryo

  can distinguish between the embryonic leaves, stem, and roots
• monocot

  flower parts are in multiples of 3
• dicot

  flower parts are in multiples of 4 or 5; seed can be split evenly into two symmetrical halves
• how to determine the carpel number

  count the lobes of the stigma
• purpose of petals, fragrance, and nectar

  attract pollinators
• purpose of fruit

  aid in seed dispersal