Flower Morphology

Question 1

Pistil

Answer 1

Female reproductive organ

Question 2

The four whorls

Answer 2

Parts of a flower

Question 3

Sepal

Answer 3

Outer floral envelope, usually at the base of the flower - protective in bud and early fruiting stages

Question 4

Petal

Answer 4

Inner floral envelope surrounding the reproductive organs, commonly pigmented to attract pollinators

Question 5

Stamen

Answer 5

Male reproductive organ

Question 6

Anther

Answer 6

Expanded, apical (at the apex) structure of a stamen that bears pollen

Question 7

Filament

Answer 7

Stalk of a stamen

Question 8

Stigma

Answer 8

Apical (at the apex) portion of the pistil recieving pollen

Question 9

Style

Answer 9

Neck of a pistil

Question 10

Ovary

Answer 10

Swollen base portion of pistil that develops into the fruit and/or seed

Question 11

Complete (flower)

Answer 11

A flower containing all four whorls

Question 12

Incomplete (flower)

Answer 12

A flower missing one or more of the four whorls

Question 13

Perfect (flower)

Answer 13

A flower containing both stamens and pistils

Question 14

Imperfect

Answer 14

A flower missing either stamen or pistils

Question 15

Staminate

Answer 15

A flower that only contains stamen

Question 16

Pistillate

Answer 16

A flower that only contains pistils

Question 17

Dioecious

Answer 17

Male and female flowers on seperate plants

Question 18

Monoecious

Answer 18

Having seperate male and female flowers on the same plant

Question 19

Calyx

Answer 19

Collective term for fused sepals

Question 20

Corolla

Answer 20

Collective term for fused petals

Question 21

Teeth/Lobes

Answer 21

Free portion of the calyx or corolla

Question 22

Throat

Answer 22

Opening at junction of free and fused portions of a corolla or calyx

Question 23

Tube

Answer 23

Fused portion of a corolla or calyx

Question 24

Perianth

Answer 24

Collective term for the floral envelope (sepals and petals), especially when they are similar in appearance

Question 25

Tepal

Answer 25

A segment of the parianth not differentiated into sepals or petals

Question 26

Actinomorphic

Answer 26

Radial symmetry in which more than one line of symmetry exists in the shape of the flower

Question 27

Zygomorphic

Answer 27

Bilateral symmatry in which only one line of symmatry exists in the shape of the flower

Question 28

Inflorescence

Answer 28

Flowering or fruiting branch; term applies to the axis from which flowers and fruit are borne

Question 29

Flowering stalk

Answer 29

i.e. Inflorescence

Question 30

Pedicel

Answer 30

Stalk of an individual flower

Question 31

Rachis

Answer 31

Portion of the axis from which flowers are borne

Question 32

Peduncle

Answer 32

Stalk of an inflorescence

Question 33

Answer 33

1. Pedicel 2. Rachis 3. Peduncle

Question 35

Bract

Answer 35

Modified leaf-like structure subtending a flower

Question 36

Spathe

Answer 36

An enlarged bract

Question 37

Involucre

Answer 37

A whorl of bracts subtending a flower cluster

Question 38

Indeterminate

Answer 38

Inflorescence axis ends in meristematic tissue

Question 39

Indeterminate - raceme

Answer 39

Elongate inflorescence with stalked flowers

Question 40

Indeterminate - panicle

Answer 40

Branched, racemose inflorescence

Question 41

Indeterminate - corymb

Answer 41

Flat-topped or rounded inflorescence with lower pedicels longer than upper ones

Question 42

Indeterminate - spike

Answer 42

Elongate inflorescence with sessile flowers

Question 43

Modified spikes - spadix

Answer 43

Flowers crowded and sunken into a thickened rachis

Question 44

Modified spikes - spikelet

Answer 44

Flowers clustered, surrounded by a pair of swollen brachs (most often grass species)

Question 45

Modified spikes - catkins

Answer 45

Inflorescence racemose, drops as a unit

Question 46

Determinate - dichasium

Answer 46

Inflorescence produces three flowers, middle blooming before two lateral flowers

Question 47

Determinate - cyme

Answer 47

Flat-topped or hemispherical inflorescence made up of dischasia units; a compound dichasia

Question 48

Umbel

Answer 48

Involucrate inflorescence with all pedicels rising at the same point (the apex of the peduncle)

Question 49

Compound umbel

Answer 49

An inflorescence comprised of umbel units arising at the same point (the apex of the peduncle)

Question 50

Head

Answer 50

Involucrate inflorescence of sessile flowers arising at the same point (the apex of the peduncle)

Question 51

Determinate

Answer 51

Inflorescence axis ends in a flower, halting elongation of axis

Question 64

Composite head

Answer 64

Head type inflorescence composed of many tightly packed, small ray and disc flowers

Question 65

Ray flower

Answer 65

Flower with one elongated corolla, found at the outer rim of a composite head inflorescence

Question 66

Disc flower

Answer 66

Tiny incomplete flower found at the center of composite head inflorescence

Question 67

Claw

Answer 67

A narrow, stalk-like, basal portion of a petal, sepal, or bract

Question 68

Flower envelope

Answer 68

The part of a flower that surrounds the stamens and pistil

Question 69

Spur

Answer 69

Hollow extension of a part of a flower (i.e. wild columbine)

Question 70

Anthocyanin

Answer 70

Pigments typically found in the flowers of woody plants, most common found. Typically include pinks, purples, and blues (cool colors)

Question 71

Carotenoid

Answer 71

Pigments much less common in woody plants, typically yellows, oranges, and reds (warm colors)

Question 72

Flower locations: 1. Terminal 2. Axillary

Answer 72

Flower locations: 1. At the end of the branch 2. Along the nodes

Question 73

Floriforous

Answer 73

Describing a plant that is bearing a lot of flowers

Question 74

Alternate bearing

Answer 74

Plants that cycle in high to low abundance of flowers year-to-year