Parts of a Flower and Their Functions

There are more than 350,000 species of plants in the world and of these, over 250,000 are flowering plants. A flower can be a blossom or a plant that is known specifically for its blossom. Most plants have flowers of some kind. Flower blossoms typically have four parts: the calyx, the corolla, the stamens and the pistol.

Calyx

Among most flowers, the calyx is the first part of the flower to develop. It serves as a protective layer for the internal workings of a flower. The calyx is made up of leaf-like petals called sepals. It is typically located where the head of the flower is attached to the stem. In some flowers the sepals are green and look like leaves, while in other flowers they look so much like the flower's petals that it is difficult to distinguish between the parts.

Corolla

The outer part of a flower is the corolla, which is made up of the flower blossom's petals. This part of the plant is often colorful, which helps attract birds, bees or other insects that assist in the pollination process. Some flower petals have stripes, spots or other markings that help to attract the birds and insects. The petals usually contain an oily substance that has an odor, which also helps to attract creatures to the flower.

Stamens

The male part of the plant is called the stamen. This is the part of the flower that creates the pollen. In some flowers, the stamens are very showy and attractive, yet in other flowers they go unnoticed. They often have two parts, the filament and the antler. The filament is a thin stalk that normally grows in the center of the flower. The antler is the enlarged tip that forms on top of the filament. After the pollen becomes ripe, it is released from the stamen to be carried to other flowers by bees, birds or other insects.

Pistol

The female part of the flower is the pistol, which is made up of the stigma, style and an ovary. Some flowers have one pistol, and some have two or more. The style is a slender tube that connects the stigma and ovary. The ovary is where the egg cells are produced.

Fertilization

The stigma is the sticky part of the pistol and when pollen lands on it, a pollen tube forms that pushes the pollen down the narrow stigma until it meets with the egg in the ovary. The sperm from the pollen unites with the egg to create a seed. The ovary then develops into a fruit surrounding the seed or seeds.

Resources

• Flower Parts
• Flower Reproduction
• Flower Development