Flower Parts and Functions

Flowers are made of several essential parts.

Anther: Contains pollen, and is the male reproductive cell

Filament: Holds the anther

Calyx: The sepals of the plant

Sepal: Small leaves under the flower

Peduncle: Stem

Ovule: Reproductive cell that will become the seed when fertilized by pollen

Ovary: A part of the female reproductive cell

Style: A tube on top of the ovary

Stigma: Receives pollen during fertilization

Carpel/Pistil: Female reproductive cell of the plant

What is the purpose of each of these structures?

Anther: The anther is very key to the flower. It is essential for reproduction of the plant and pollination. The anther is a part of the stamen, which is the male reproductive cell of the plant. The stamen of the flower, is made of two parts, the filament and anther. When the anther opens, the pollen is caught on by bees and wind and is transported to other plants, which the plant pollinates, allowing for plant reproduction.

Filament: The filament of the plant is also a male reproductive cell. Like the anther, the filament builds the stamen of the plant. The filaments are small hair-like stalks of the stamen. The filament plays it’s part by supporting the anther of the plant. When the anther opens, it is easy to the filaments shooting up like stems inside the plant.

Calyx: When a plant is in its budding stage, the petals of the plant are covered with sepals. Sepals are green leaf-like, although thicker, structures. The sepals of the plant keep the bud and and interior structures safe as it blossoms. A group of sepals is known as a calyx.

Peduncle: The peduncle of the plant is a stem that holds the inflorescence, a cluster of flowers, or just the singular flower, and the fruit of a flower. The peduncle supports the plant and is sturdy in order to support the flower and or fruits.  

Ovule: The ovule of the flower is the structure that holds the female germ cell and when fertilized, turns into the seed of the plant. The ovule of the plant is important to reproduction of the plant as it contains the female reproductive cells. The ovule, when fertilized, produces new flowers as it is the seed.

Ovary: The ovary of the plant is in the base of the Carpel, and contains the ovules of the plant. The ovary will eventually mature to become a fruit of any consistency and will enclose the seeds of the fruit.

Style: The style is found within the flower. It is a long, slender structure that connects the stigma with the ovary of the flower. The stigma is located at the top of the style, and is the sticky platform where pollen is deposited. Together the stigma, style, and ovary build the carpel.

Carpel: The carpel/pistil is the female reproductive cell in the flower, and all three structures of the pistil work together to ensure progress of fertilization and plant reproduction. Pollen, which holds the male genetic cells, lands on the stigma of the plant and stays there due to the stigmas sticky surface. As the pollen germinates on the stigma, a pollen tube is created, which the pollen will use to burrow through the whole of the style. The pollen tube grows out of the pollen grain, and will create a tunnel reaching from the stigma to the ovary. When the pollen tube then reaches the ovary, two sperm cells are emitted from the pollen grain, and they are then allowed to go from the pollen grain down towards the ovary. Once the sperm cells have reached the ovary, they then fertilize the egg that is waiting in the ovule. After the egg has been fertilized, the ovule develops into the seed, and the ovary into the fruit. If the fruit is uneaten, the creation of a plant of the same species begins.