Functions of Flower

In this article, we will learn about the structure of flowers as well as the function of flowers.

Pollination

Pollination can be classified into two types: self-pollination and cross-pollination. Self-pollination occurs when pollen from the anther is deposited on the stigma of the same flower, or on another flower on the same plant, resulting in the production of more pollen. Cross-pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower on a different individual of the same species, and it occurs when two flowers on the same species are pollinated by the same pollen. Auto Pollination occurs in flowers where the stamen and carpel mature at the same time and are placed in such a way that the pollen lands on or near the stigma of the flower. There is no investment required from the plant in terms of providing nectar and pollen as food for pollinators in this type of pollination. Some flowers produce diaspores even when they are not fertilised (parthenocarpy). Flowers contain sporangia and serve as a host for the development of gametophytes. Many flowers have evolved to be attractive to animals, which has resulted in animals serving as pollen transfer vectors for a variety of flowers. The ovary of the flower develops into a fruit that contains seeds after it has been fertilised.

Flowers, in addition to assisting in the reproduction of flowering plants, have long been admired and used by humans to enhance the beauty of their surroundings, as well as objects of romance, ritual, esotericism, witchcraft, religion, medicine, and as a food source.

Flowers

Flowers are the reproductive organs of angiospermophytes (flowering plants), and they contain both male and female reproductive structures in the same flower. Most flowers have both male and female structures (they are monoecious), but some flowers may only have one structure (they are dioecious) (dioecious).

The stamen is the male reproductive organ of the flower.

The flower’s pollen-producing organ is known as the anther (pollen is the male gamete of a flowering plant)

The filament is a slender stalk that supports the anthers (makes the anther accessible to pollinators)

The pistil (or carpel) is the female part of the flower, and it is made up of the following components:

a sticky, receptive tip of the pistil responsible for catching pollen

The style is a tube-shaped connection that connects the stigma and the ovule (it elevates the stigma to help catch pollen)

The ovule is a structure that contains the female reproductive cells and is located in the cervix (after fertilisation, it will develop into a seed).

Flowers are also equipped with a variety of other support structures, in addition to their reproductive structures:

Petals are brightly coloured modified leaves that serve the purpose of attracting pollinators to the plant.

When a flower is in bud, the sepal is the outer covering that protects the flower.

The flower’s stalk is known as the peduncle.

Primary function of a flower

The primary function of a flower is to aid in the reproduction of both the individual flower and the species. The heterosporous nature of all flowering plants refers to the fact that each individual plant produces two different types of spores. Microspores are produced by meiosis within anthers, and megaspores are produced by meiosis within ovules that are contained within an ovary. Anthers are typically made up of four microsporangia, and an ovule is a megasporangium with integumented spores. Both types of spores develop into gametophytes within sporangia, which are specialised reproductive structures. Like all heterosporous plants, the gametophytes develop within the spores, which is why they are known as endosporic gametophytes.

Individual flowers in the majority of plant species have both functional carpels and stamens, and they are found in the majority of flowering plants. Plant scientists classify these flowers as perfect or bisexual, and the species as hermaphroditic (having both male and female characteristics). A small number of plant species have flowers that are devoid of one or both reproductive organs, and these flowers are referred to as imperfect or unisexual. Monoecious species are those in which the individual plants of a species each bear unisexual flowers of both sexes, indicating that the species is asexual. The species is dioecious if each individual plant produces only unisexual flowers of the same sex, in which case the species is dioecious.

The primary function of a flower is to aid in reproduction. Given that the flowers serve as the plant’s reproductive organs, they are responsible for mediating the union of the sperm contained within pollen with the ovules contained within the ovary. Pollination is defined as the movement of pollen from the anthers to the stigma of a flowering plant. [24] Cross-pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred from one plant to another. However, many plants are capable of pollinating themselves. In order to ensure the survival of a species, cross-pollination is preferred because it allows for genetic variation. Genetic variation is important for the survival of a species. Many flowers are therefore reliant on external factors for pollination, such as the wind, water, animals, and, in particular, insects, in order to reproduce. The use of larger animals such as birds, bats, and even some pygmy possums is possible, as well as the use of smaller animals. In order to accomplish this, flowers are designed in a way that encourages pollen transfer from one plant to another of the same species. Thus, the term thesis refers to the period of time during which this process can take place (when the flower has fully expanded and become fully functional), and the study of pollination biology is referred to as anthecology. Flowering plants are frequently subjected to evolutionary pressure to improve the transfer of their pollen, and this is typically reflected in the morphology of their flowers as well as in the behaviour of the plants themselves. Pollen can be transferred between plants using a variety of vectors,’ or methods, including wind and water. Around 80% of flowering plants make use of biotic, or living, vectors to spread their seeds. Others make use of abiotic, or nonliving, vectors, and some plants employ multiple vectors, but the majority are highly specialised in their use.

Conclusion