Free Worksheets, Lessons, Quizzes

Parts of a Flower


What are parts of a flower?


 

There are many parts of a flower.

 

This lesson teaches you about the parts of a flower. We all love flowers because they are so beautiful and fragrant. But have you ever thought why plants produce flowers and why they are important to plants?

parts of a flower

 

 

Why flowers are important ?

Flower is the main structure of a plant that involves in reproduction of the plant, which is essential in spread their species. On the other hand, it is the part that gives fruit. Therefore, it is important to know about the parts that make a flower as they all contribute in these processes.

 

In a flower the female reproductive part is called the Pistil. It has three main parts called, stigma, style and ovary. Stamen is the male reproductive part of a flower. Stamen contains 2 parts. Anther and the filament.

 

Sexual reproduction takes place in flowers.

 

Let’s now see the parts of a flower and their functions.

 

Male and Female reproductive parts of a flower

 

Female parts of a flower


 

Pistil

The female reproductive part of a flower is called the Pistil. This is also known as the carpel.

 

Pistil or carpel contains 3 parts.

 

  • Stigma
  • Style
  • Ovary

 

Stigma

The stigma contains a sticky substance. Its job is to catch the pollen grains. These pollen grains can stick to stigma.

 

Style

The style is the stalk like thing that holds up the stigma.

 

Ovary

Ovary holds ‘ovules’ or eggs. Ovules produce female sex cells.

 

Which part of the flower becomes a fruit?

After fertilization the ovules become the seeds. The ovary becomes the fruit. (Read the lesson ‘Pollination and Fertilization‘)

 

pistil

 

Male parts of a flower


 

Stamen

Stamen is the male reproductive part of a flower.
 

Stamen contains 2 parts.

 

  • Anther
  • Filament

 

Anther

Anther holds a yellow dust called pollen grains. Each pollen grain has a male sex cell.

 

Filament

Filament holds up the anther.

 

stamen

 

stamen

Stamens of a natural flower

 

Other parts


 

Petals

Petals are often very brightly coloured. 

 
flower petals
 

What is the function of the petals?

This is because their main job is to attract insects, such as bees or butterflies, into the flower. These insects pick up pollen from the flower, and carry it to the next flower they visit. This is how most flowers get pollinated.

 

petal

 

Sepals

Sepals are special types of leaves that form a ring around the petals. Their job is to protect the flower while it is still a bud. After the flower has opened, the sepals can still be seen behind the petals. Sepals are usually green or brown, although in some plants they are the same colour as the petals.

 

sepal

 

Nectaries

The nectaries make nectar in the flower. Nectar is a sweet substance, which insects drink to give them energy. Bees also use nectar to make honey. The nectaries are usually right in the centre of the flower. This means the insects have to reach deep into the flower to find the nectar. As they do so, their bodies pick up pollen from the anthers, and they carry it to the next flower they visit.

 

nactaries

 

Receptacle

The receptacle is the top part of the flower stalk, where the parts of the flower are attached. It is often rounded in shape. All the parts of the flower are attached to the receptacle.

 

receptacle

 

There are two types of reproduction in plants.

 

Asexual reproduction

 

asexual-reproduction

Examples of plants which don’t produce flowers. They have different ways to spread their species.

 

Sexual reproduction

 

sexual reproduction of a flower

Sexual reproduction in flowering plants takes place when flowers get pollinated by insects like bees.

 

Here, we are going to discuss about the sexual reproduction in plants.

 

There are mainly two types of plants.

 

  • Flowering plants
  • flowering-plants

    Flowering plants produce flowers. Oleander is an example of a flowering plant.

     

  • Non-flowering plants
  • non-flowering-succulents

    Examples of non-flowering succulents. Some succulents don’t produce flowers.

 

What are flowering plants?

Flowering plants are the plants which bear flowers.

 

What are non-flowering plants?

Non-flowering plants are the plants which don’t bear flowers.

 

Sexual reproduction takes place in flowering plants.

 

Sex cells in flowers


 

What are sex cells?

Sex cells involves in sexual reproduction in plants. In flowering plants the ‘flower’ is the structure which bears sex cells.

 

What are the two types of sex cells?

 

  • Male sex cells (also called male gametes)
  • Female sex cells (also called female gametes or eggs)

 

What is sexual reproduction?

The process of joining a tiny male sex cell with a female sex cell and producing seeds in flowers.

 

Now try the ‘Quizzes‘!