Abstract
The basics of flower structure are straightforward. A “typical” flower (Figure 1) has four whorls of floral organs arranged in stereotypical order: sepals (lowermost and outermost), petals, stamens, and, finally, one or more carpels (pistils) located in the innermost (or uppermost) position. This is not rocket science. Names of these floral organs and their relative placement within the flower can be grasped readily by schoolchildren. Also “typical” but seldom emphasized in elementary lessons is the fact that the organs of each successive whorl occupy alternate radii; i.e., petals are routinely positioned between sepals, and stamens (if only one whorl) are positioned between petals. Said another way, successive floral organs typically occur on alternate radii.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2019
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2019, Virginia Native Plant Society. This article first appeared in Sempervirens Quarterly (Spring 2019), 6-7.
Please note that downloads of the article are for private/personal use only.
Recommended Citation
Hayden, W. John. "Unique Features of Ceanothus Trace to Earliest Stages of Flower Development." Sempervirens Quarterly Spring 2019, 6-7.