Structure of Flowers
Flowers are reproductive organs that are composed of four kinds of specialized leaves: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels.
Sepals and Petals
The sepals are green and enclose the bud before it opens. They also protect the flower while it is developing. The petals, which are often brightly colored, are found inside the sepals. The petals attract insects, birds and other pollinators to the flower.
Stamens and Carpels
The stamen contains the male parts of the flower, which consist of an anther and a filament. The filament is a long, thin stalk and at the top of each filament is an anther, an oval sac. This is where pollen is produced. The carpels contain the female parts of the flower, which consist of the ovary, style, and stigma. Each carpel has a base forming an ovary. Inside the ovary, it contains one or more ovules, where female gametophytes are produced. A gametophyte is a haploid or gamete- producing, phase of an organism. The style is the long, thick, narrow stalk and the top of the style is known as the stigma, where pollen grains land.
Sepals and Petals
The sepals are green and enclose the bud before it opens. They also protect the flower while it is developing. The petals, which are often brightly colored, are found inside the sepals. The petals attract insects, birds and other pollinators to the flower.
Stamens and Carpels
The stamen contains the male parts of the flower, which consist of an anther and a filament. The filament is a long, thin stalk and at the top of each filament is an anther, an oval sac. This is where pollen is produced. The carpels contain the female parts of the flower, which consist of the ovary, style, and stigma. Each carpel has a base forming an ovary. Inside the ovary, it contains one or more ovules, where female gametophytes are produced. A gametophyte is a haploid or gamete- producing, phase of an organism. The style is the long, thick, narrow stalk and the top of the style is known as the stigma, where pollen grains land.