In this article we are going to learn about parts of flower for this we are taking Datur flower as example. The part of the plant which attracts our attention is the flower. Flowers usually have attractive colours and some of them emit sweet smell, Some plants produce flowers iii all seasons, but most of the plants produce flowers only in a particular season. Rose and China rose flower in the rainy season. Marigold and Chrysanthemum flower in winter. Jasmine, neem and mango flower in summer. How are the flowers useful to the plants ?. We know that fruits are formed from flowers and fruits contain the seeds. Healthy seeds, when sown under suitable conditions, germinate into new plants. Generally most of the plants reproduce through seeds. Flowers are of many sizes, Shapes and colours, but all flowers have the same basic parts. Let us study the parts of a flower like Datura.

Parts of a Datura flower and their function :

The Datura flower has a small stalk at its base. This is called the pedicel. The swollen part over the pedicel is the
thalamus. Different parts of the flower are arranged on the thalamus in four whorls or rings, one within the other. The parts are Calyx, Corolla, Androecium (Stamens) and Gynoecium. The pedicel is a short and stout stalk of a flower.

Calyx : The outermost whorl consists of five green leaf like structures known as sepals. All the sepals together are known as calyx. In Datura, the sepals are united to form a tube like structure. The calyx protects the internal parts of the flower.

Corolla : The whorl lying inner to the calyx is called Corolla. The corolla consist of a number of delicate structures called petals. Petals are white in colour. They are united to form a tube. In some flowers, petals are not united as in Datura, but are free. In some flowers only a few of the petals are fused and the rest are free.

Androecium (Stamens) : The long thin structures present inside the corolla are called Stamens. The stamens are five in number and united with the petals upto a certain length. In some flowers stamesn are free and not united with petals. Stamens are the male reproductive parts of the flower and are collectively known as Androecium. A single stamen has a stalk called the filament and an expanded part its tip called the anther. When the anthers are ripe, they produce fine dust like particles called pollen or pollen grains. The pollen grains are male gametes. They help in fertilization and in the formation of seeds in the fruit.

Gynoecium: This is the fourth part in the series. This is the feenale part, and is also known as pistil separate this from the flower, place it on a piece of white paper and observe the parts with a magnifying lens. The base is swollen and is known as ovary. A thin long tube like structure starting from ovary is called the style. The tip of the style is larger than the rest of the style and is called the stigma. Thus, the pistil has three parts namely ovary, style and stigma. Cut the ovary along across its length and observe. The ovary has 2-4 chambers in which grain like structures called ovules are present. Ovules contain female gametes. When fertilized, ovules develop into seeds.

Androecium and gynoecium play an important role in sexual Structure of Ovary reproduction. Hence, they are known as essential parts of the flower. The calyx and corolla protect the essential parts of the flower. They also attract the insects for pollination. Hence, they are known as accessory parts of the flower.