Flower Morphology

Ovule

An immature seed

Pistile

Female reproductive organ; typically composed of stigma, style, and ovary.

Umbel

Flat-topped or convex inflorescence with pedicels arising from a common point

Corymb

Flat-topped or round-topped inflorescence; modified raceme with lower pedicels longer than upper ones

Complete flower

Has all parts typical of flower present; sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils.

Stigma

Portion of pistil receptive to pollen; site of pollen germination.

Bract

Reduced leaf like structure at base of flower or inflorescence

Dioecious

Separate male and female flowers on separate plants. Male and female plants.

Monoecious

Separate male and female flowers same plant

Peduncle

Stalk of a solitary flower or stalk of entire inflorescence.

Pedicel

Stalk of an individual flower in inflorescence.

Filament

Stalk that supports anther.

Corolla

Collective name for all petals of a flower.

Calyx

Collective term for all sepals of a flower.

Style

Connects stigma to ovary; contains transmitting tract tissue promotes/allows pollen tube to grow

Perfect flower

Contains both male and female reproductive organs.

Ovary

Expanded basal portion of pistil contains ovules; in many fruits is fleshy portion that we eat.

Raceme

Individual flowers stalked on single axis (rachis)

Sepals

Leaf like structure that subtends petals

Petals

Leaf-like structure is often is the showiest structure of a flower. Can be used to attract pollinators

Stamen

Male reproductive organ composed of anther and filament.

Incomplete flower

Missing one or more parts typical of flowers.

Imperfect flower

One but not both sexes in same flower.

Superior/ hypogynous

Ovary attached above floral whorls

Inferior/ epigynous

Ovary attached below floral whorls

Anther

Upper portion stamen that produces and sheds pollen.