Nomenclature and Anatomy of Flowers

Flower Anatomy:

A complete flower has 4 parts present• sepals• petals• stamens• pistils

Sepal• One of the outermost flower

structures• Commonly small, green, leaflike

structures• Collective word for sepals and

petals is called perianth

Petals

• Usually conspicuously colored• Collectively called the corolla• Normally positioned between

sepals and inner flower parts

Stamens

• Threadlike extensions that stand upright from the perianth

• Male reproductive parts of a flower• Consists of the anther and the

filament

Pistils

• Female reproductive parts of a flower

• Consists of the stigma, style, and ovary

Types of Flower Structure

• Solitary• Inflorescence

Solitary Flowers

• Flowers that form singly on upright stalks

• Ex: tulips, roses, daffodils

Inflorescence

• A flower that is made up of several florets

• Flowers have a branching pattern from the main stem

• The main stalk of an inflorescence is a peduncle, stalks that support the florets are called pedicels

Types of Inflorescence

• Has an elongated inflorescence on the main stem.

• Ex: liatris, gladiolus

Spike:

Types of Inflorescence

• Similar to a spike except florets aren’t directly attached to the stem

• Ex: delphinium

Raceme:

Types of Inflorescence

• Has a flat top or slightly convex shape

• Has main stem with pedicels of unequal length

• Ex: yarrow

Corymb:

Types of Inflorescence

• Broad and flat topped

• Has divisions that arise below a terminal flower

• Ex: Bird of Paradise

Cyme:

Types of Inflorescence

• Flower cluster that is easily recognized

• Simple umbel has single pedicelled flowers all arising from the top of the main stem. Ex: agapanthus

• Compound umbel has secondary umbels arising from main stem. Ex: Queen Anne’s Lace

Umbel:

Types of Inflorescence

• Thick flower spike surrounded by a conspicuous bract.

• The spathe (bract) is often mistakenly identified as the flower

• Ex: Anthurium

Spadix:

Types of Inflorescence

• Slender , scaly-bracted inflorescence found on woody plants

• Ex: Willow, alder, birch

Catkin:

Types of Inflorescence

• Short, dense cluster of flowers in a flat pattern

• Ex: sunflowers

Head Flower:

Leaf PartsThree main leaf parts:

• Blade• Petiole• Stipules

Three main leaf parts:

• Blade (the leaf itself)• Petiole (the leaf stalk that connects the

leaf blade to the stem)• Stipules (the two appendages at the

base of the petiole)

Any of these parts may be lacking. For example, when there is not a petiole, the leaf is sessile (attached directly to the stem).

Leaf Types

Leaf type will affect texture, style and form in a floral design.– Simple leaf: a leaf with a single

blade– Compound leaf: a leaf with more

than one blade (leaflets).• Leaflets are the smaller blades that

make up a compound leaf and may be arranged in a variety of ways/

– See page 135, Figure 9-21. – Draw and label the four leaves shown.

Leaf Vein Patterns• Vein patterns in

leaf blades are called venation

• Types– parallel– palmate– pinnate

See page 136, Figure 9-22.

Leaf Vein PatternsLabel the three

types of leaf venation:

1. ____________

2. _____________

3. ____________

Name ______________

Leaf ShapesSee page 137 Figure 9-24• Basic outline of the blade make up

the shape of the leaf• Ex: oblong, linear, pelate, elliptic• Draw three different types of leaf

shapes

Leaf MarginsPage 137 Figure 9-25• Edge of the leaf blade is called a

margin• The appearance of the margin can

affect the texture of a design• Ex: entire, undulate, serrate, lobed• Draw three different types of leaf

margins

Post-harvest Physiology & Metabolic Processes:• Please have your books open to pg 137 Background:• Once plant material is harvested, the

plants are still metabolizing.• When flowers are cut, the supply of

water and mineral nutrients for normal metabolic activity id temporarily cut off. And the flowers and foliage continue to lose water.

• Unless the water loss is inhibited, wilting and loss of turgor will result.

• Turgor (cell rigidity and firmness)

Water Uptake & Transport• Cut flowers need to drink water, which

carries sugars and other compounds and helps keep flower parts turgid (firm).

• Flower stems have a plumbing system called the xylem, which is made up of tiny vessels. The xylem is the water-conducting tissue that carries water up the stem, to the leaves, and to the flower.

• Please draw figure 9-27 on page 139 and describe what is happening in the picture.

• Phloem is another plumbing system, but it is the food-conducting tissue.

Transpiration Terms to Define:Page 139• Transpiration

• Stomata

• Relative humidity

Respiration Terms To Define:Page 139• Respiration• Carbohydrates• Senescence• Ethylene