Flowers - Structure and Function - 2

In some plants, the ovary has only one chamber despite consisting of several fused carpels. In these plants, the placenta is central and called free central placentation.

If a flower has only one line of symmetry, i.e. there is only one way to divide it to get two equal halves, it is called zygomorphic flower. For example, sweet pea, beans, tulsi, etc.

Jasmine plant shows cymose inflorescence in which the tip of the main axis ends in a single flower and the subsequent flowers arise on the lower branches.

In spadix inflorescence, stalk has densely arranged flowers around the stalk, which are enclosed or accompanied by a spathe.

<span style="font-family:" arial,="" sans-serif;="" font-size:="" small;="" line-height:="" 16px;="">The <span style="color:" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" font-family:="" arial,="" sans-serif;="" font-size:="" small;="" line-height:="" 16px;="">plants in which the male and female reproductive structures are found in different individuals are called dioecious plants. For example, mulberry, betel, etc.

In composite, a very distinctive shape of flowers is found. They consist of many tiny flowers or florets, packed in a large flattened receptacle.

When a flower can be cut into two equal halves by any vertical section passing through the centre, it is called actinomorphic flower.

The arrangement of ovules in the ovary is called placentation.

Oldest flowers are present near the base and youngest flowers at the tip in a raceme.

The sepals of a mustard flower are free from each other. Hence, they are called polysepalous.

Pea plant has diadelphous stamens.

If ovary is present below the level of attachment of three whorls, it is called inferior ovary and the condition is called epigyny and it is shown by cucumber and sunflower.

The funnel shaped corolla is called infundibulum.

The area of ovary wall where the ovules are attached is called placenta.

In parietal placentation, the placenta is present on the outer wall of ovary.

In mango, lateral style is present.

A panicle is a branched, indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers on the secondary branches.

A spike is an unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence with sessile flowers arranged along the axis.

Zygomorphic flower is represented as (%).

When a flower cannot be divided into two equal halves along any plane, it is known as symmetrical flower. For example, canna.