flowering plants

When we think about plants it is common that we first think about flowers. Maybe that is because they are very beautiful, with a nice smell, and are almost everywhere present around us in nature. The plants that produce flowers are called flowering plants. Their flower is the most remarkable feature that distinguishes them from other seed plants. They are the most diverse group of land plants. Flowering plants live in most habitats, even in deserts and polar regions. They include species of trees, shrubs, and herbs. In this lesson, we are going to learn about:

• Flowering plants
• Structure of flowers
• Characteristics of the flowering plants
• Classification of flowering plants

 

Flowering plants

Flowering plants are also known as Angiosperms. Their name means a plant that produces seeds within an enclosure, or simpler - a fruiting plant. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants. Flowering plants are the most diverse group of land plants, with around 300 000 known species. They comprise over 90% of the world's plant species. Let's see now some of the most known flowering plants in the world. 

 

	Rose
	Daisy
	Daffodil
	Dahlia
	Lilies
	Orchid
	Sunflower
	Tulip
	Magnolia

Examples of angiosperms are also fruit trees including  Peach, Apple, Banana, Orange, Cherry. They have flowers before they bear fruit. The process of pollination is generally carried out by bees and other animals. Grains, like rice, wheat, and corn are also examples of Angiosperm.

 

Structure of flower

Because the flower is what distinguishes flowering plants from other plants we will now learn about the flower's structure, so we can better understand the things that we will discuss in this lesson. 

A flower is the sexual reproductive organ in plants. The flower’s structure is as follows. 

1. Calyx
2. Corolla
3. Androecium
4. Gynoecium

1. Collectively the sepals are called the calyx. That part of the flower of angiosperms is usually green. Sepals provide protection for the flower in the bud and often support the petals when in bloom.

2.  The petals (colorful parts of the flower) together are called corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by the sepals, and they together make up the perianth. Petals attract the pollinating agents to the flower.

3. Stamens are collectively called androecium. They are actually the male parts of the flower. Stamens are composed of saclike anthers and filaments, which are stalks that support the anthers. The anthers produce pollen which contains the male gamete.

4. The gynoecium, are female parts of the flower. The gynoecium is typically made up of an ovary, style, and stigma as in the center of the flower. The pollen lands on the stigma. Then it is passed through the style to the ovary, which consists of ovules where the female gamete is found. 

 

Characteristics of flowering plants

 

All flowering plants have their characteristics. Some of them are as follows. 

• At some stage in their life, they have flowers, which provides them a means of exchanging genetic information.
• They have developed fruits. 
• Angiosperms produce seeds within a flower. 
• They have vascular tissue and produce pollen.
• For the purpose of attracting pollinators, they have a wide array of colors, smells, and shapes. 
• They have an advantage - the production of endosperm, which is a food source for the developing seed. 

 

Classification of flowering plants

Traditionally, the flowering plants have been divided into two major groups, or classes, the Dicots and the Monocots.

• Monocotyledons, commonly referred to as monocots, are flowering plants, the seeds of which typically contain only one embryonic leaf or cotyledon.
• Dicotyledons, also known as dicots, are flowering plants, the seeds of which have two embryonic leaves or cotyledons.

Using this classification of flowering plants, there are always exceptions to the rule. Some dicots may have a feature typically found in monocots, or some monocots may have a feature typically found in the dicots. Also, some of the flowering plants (approximately 2%) don’t fit into either the monocot or the dicot category.

 

Tips to remember:

• Flowering plants are the most diverse group of land plants.
• Flowering plants are called Angiosperms.
• Angiosperms are seed-producing plants.
• The most remarkable feature that distinguishes them from other seed plants are the flowers.
• The flower is the sexual reproductive organ.
• The flowering plants have been divided into two major groups, or classes, the Dicots and the Monocots.