SEMESTER 3 Practical Science 1

Experiment 7

Topic: Investigating the structure of flowers, Angiospermatophyta.

Purpose:

A: To investigate the morphology of the flame of the forest (Delonix regia) flower and
its relation to its function.

Theory:

Flowers vary greatly in structure. The fundamental similarities among flowers of

different kinds of plants are, however, greater than their differences, since all flowers
have the same basic structural plan.

Each individual flower is borne at the tip of a specialized stalk known as a pedicel.
The floral organs borne by the pedicel are usually grouped in four concentric whorls.
Sepals make up the outermost whorl of floral organs. Sepals surround and protect
the other parts of the developing flower. Petals make up the next whorl. Most animal-
pollinated flowers have bright petals to attract the pollinators.

The two innermost whorls contain the reproductive structures. The male reproductive
organs are the stamens. Stamens have two parts: a pollen sac (anther) on the end of
a stalk (filament). An anther contains mirosporangia, which produce microsporesthat
mature into pollen grains.

The innermost whorl contains the female reproductive structures, which are called
carpels. One or more carpels fused together make up the structure called a pistil.
The pistil is comprised of a swollen base called the ovary containing the ovules
(eggs), the stalk-like style rising from the ovary, and the hairy or sticky pollen-
trapping tip of the style known as the stigma. Flowers containing all four whorls are
known as complete or perfect flowers.

Any flowers lacking one or more of the four whorls are termed incomplete flowers.
Some types lack sepals or in the case of the tulips and lilies, the sepals are brightly
colored and identical to the petals. Others may lack petals and possibly sepals as
well. Members of the grass family all form incomplete flowers lacking both petals and
stamens.

Grass flowers are so small and so drab due to lack of petals that most people aren’t
aware they even exist. Or people don’t recognize them as flowers because they
confuse flower and petal as being synonymous when they in fact are not.

Some flowers lack one set of sexual organs. Plants whose flowers have only male
stamens but no female pistils are said to be incomplete staminate flowers. Those
with pistils but lacking stamens are said to be incomplete pistilate flowers.
From the human perspective, the flower may well be the second most important
plant structure on the planet (Leaves are undoubtedly the most important). Flowers
produce the seeds that allow all the plant species we depend upon for our food,
materials, medicine, and general comfort of life to continue to exist.

Radially symmetrical flowers are called actinomorphic and bilaterially symmetrical

flowers called zygomorphic flowers.

Floral diagram provides a plan of the flower as viewed from above. It looks like
diagrammatic cross-section.

If a bract, a leaf-like structure immediately beneath the flower, is present it should be

facing you, the flower stalk should be furthest away and the main stem of the plant
should be at the top of the flower. You will probably cut a cross-section of the ovary
so that we can show the position of the ovules in the diagram. If the petals, sepals,
or stamens are joined, link them with simple brackets. If the stamens arise from the
petals, link them with radial lines.
Apparatus and Material:

1. Flame of the forest flower

2. Orchid flower
3. Knife
4. Hand lens
5. Tiles
6. Ruler

Procedures:

The flower was cut into two equal halves using a knife. A large labelled drawing of
the dissected flowers was make as well as the floral diagram. The scale of drawing is
stated.

Scale:
B: To investigate the morphology of the orchid flower and its relation to its function.

Apparatus and Material:

1. Orchid flower ( Dendrobium)

2. Knife
3. Hand lens
4. Tiles
5. Ruler

Procedure:

The flower is cut into two equal halves using a knife. A large labelled drawing of the
dissected flower is make as well as the floral diagram of the flower. The le of the
drawing is stated
Discussion

A flower is basically made up of four concentric rings of structures. There is an outer

ring of modified leaves called sepals. These provide protection to the flower before it
opens and are usually green. This outer ring is known as the calyx. Inside the sepals
is another ring of modified leaves called petals which are often brightly coloured.
This layer is known as the corolla.

Within the corolla are one or more stamens containing pollen, which are the male
reproductive structures. In the very centre of the flower are the female reproductive
organs.The female parts of a flower consist of an ovary, which contains one or more
ovules, a style and the stigma. The ovary is at the base of the flower.

From the ovary, extends a tubular structure called the style and on the top of the
style is a surface receptive to pollen called the stigma.The stigma can take many
different forms, most of them designed to help trap pollen. There are many variations
on this basic structural theme.

The male parts of a flower consist of one or more stamens. Each stamen is made up
of paired anthers (sacs containing pollen) on a filament or stalk.The anthers are the
orange/yellow structures often seen in the centre of a flower. Pollen from the anthers
of one flower is transferred to the stigma of another usually either by wind, or by
animals, especially insects.

Flowers do not always have the two outer layers of calyx and corolla. These two
layers are most noticeable in plants which are pollinated by insects. The corolla or
petals are often brightly coloured with markings attractive to insects. The flowers
may also be scented. For instance, Honeysuckle has showy, attractive flowers which
attract insects by day. However, in the dark, their colourful show is not much use,
and their heady scent then helps to attract night-flying moths.

In insect-pollinated plants, there are also usually nectarines which secrete sugary
nectar, located within the flower. These provide an incentive to insects to visit the
flowers. In the search for nectar, the insects will often get pollen grains caught on
their bodies. This may then brush off onto the stigma of the next flower visited and in
this way the flowers are pollinated.

Many flowers have evolved very specific associations with a particular insect species
or group of species. In these cases flower structure may be very specialized (e.g.
orchids). Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) and Primroses (Primula vulgaris) show a
range of adaptations to insect pollination. 

Wind pollination is also common in flowering plants. In this case, because there is no
necessity to attract insects, the calyx and corolla of the flowers may be absent.
Flame of the forest

In this flower we had discovered that this flower is a type of. For the
structure for this flower is can be divided into many characteristic. The peduncle for
this flower stalk is green in colour. The receptacle part of flower is to stalk bearing
the floral organs, at base of flower and the colour of receptacle is green in colour.
Sepal is leaf-like structures at flower base and the function of sepal to flower is to
protect young flower bud. Flame of the forest has five sepals and the colour is red at
the top and green in colour at the bottom of sepals.

Petal of flame of the forest is located in and above the sepals, often large
and colourful red in colour, sometimes scented, sometimes producing nectar. Often
serve to attract pollinators to the plant and Flame of the forest has five petals. The
texture of this flower is soft and the thickness of this plant also thin. These flower
parts are arranged spirally or in whorls around the receptacle. Dicotyledonous
flowers usually have four whorls, whereas monocotyledonous flowers typically have
three whorls. The third whorl, the endroecium,consist of stamens which are the male
reproductive organs of the flower. Each stamen is made up of anther and filament.
This flower of Flame of the Forest has 10 stamens. The anther is brown in colour
that contains pollen sacs which produce pollen. The filaments of this Flame of the
Forest have red in colour that contains vascular tissue which carries food and water
to the anther. The gynaecium or pistil is the whorl at the centre of the flower, and it is
made up of one carpels in this flower Flame of the Forest.

Carpels have three main parts. First is a swollen base, the ovary which
contains one ovule. These parts develop into seed after fertilisation. Seconds, a
sticky or feathery tip called the stigma for easy adherence of pollen grains. Thirds is
a stalk called the style which holds the stigma in a suitable position to receive pollen.
If the ovary is inserted above the other whorls on the receptacle, it is called a
superior ovary and if the position of the ovary o the receptacle is below the other
whorls, it is called an inferior ovary. From the observation during experiment I had
seen the position of the ovary for this Flame of the Forest and the position of the
ovary is inserted above the other whorls on the receptacle and for sure it is superior
ovary. Flower may be actinomorphic or regular, that is, the floral parts are arranged
in radial symmetry on the receptacle, or they may be zygomorphic or irregular, that
is, the floral parts show bilateral symmetry only. From this experiment this flower of
Flame of the Forest has actinomorphic or regular this is because we can cut the
flower in many part or line to get radial symmetry.
Orchid

In this flower we had discovered that this flower is a type of Dendrobium

flower. For the structure for this flower is can be divided into many characteristic. The
peduncle for this flower stalk is yellow in colour. The receptacle part of flower is to
stalk bearing the floral organs, at base of flower and the colour of receptacle is
yellow in colour. Sepal is leaf-like structures at flower base and the function of sepal
to flower is to protect young flower bud. Orchid flower has one dorsal sepals and two
lateral sepals that yellow with purple dot colour.

Petal of orchid flower is located between the sepals, often same colour with
sepals in colour . Often serve to attract pollinators to the plant and orchid has two
petals. The texture of this flower is soft, rough and the thickness of this plant also
quite thick than flame of the forest.. Dicotyledonous flowers usually have four whorls,
whereas monocotyledonous flowers typically have three whorls. The third whorl, the
endroecium,consist of stamens which are the male reproductive organs of the flower.
Each stamen is made up of anther and filament. This flower of orchid has anther
cap and stigma in same position or we can say in same column foot. The anther cap
is purple in colour that contains pollen sacs which produce pollen. The filaments of
this orchid have red in colour that contains vascular tissue which carries food and
water to the anther. The gynaecium or pistil is the whorl at the centre of the flower,
and it is made up of one carpels in this orchid.

As you know this orchid anther share same column foot with carpel. To
simple the discussion we say that the orchid column. Orchid column have four stage
of structure. First is a anther cap, second is the stigma, third is column foot and lastly
the ovary which contains one ovule. These parts develop into seed after fertilisation.
Seconds, a sticky or feathery tip called the stigma for easy adherence of pollen
grains. If the ovary is inserted above the other whorls on the receptacle, it is called a
superior ovary and if the position of the ovary o the receptacle is below the other
whorls, it is called an inferior ovary. From the observation during experiment I had
seen the position of the ovary for this orchid and the position of the ovary is inserted
above the other whorls on the receptacle and for sure it is superior ovary. Flower
may be actinomorphic or regular, that is, the floral parts are arranged in radial
symmetry on the receptacle, or they may be zygomorphic or irregular, that is, the
floral parts show bilateral symmetry only. From this experiment this flower of orchid
has zygomorphic or irregular this is because we can’t cut the flower in many part or
line to get radial symmetry. Hence to get the symmetry line only one line that can be
cut.
Precaution:

1. Use the sharp knife to cut the flower without imperfectly separates the flowers
parts.
2. Handle the knife with carefully without being injured.
3. Cut the flower with arranged in radial symmetry on the receptacle whether the
flower is actinomorphic or zygomorphic.

Conclusion

The phylum Angiospermophyta comprises flowering plants which produce seed

protected by an ovary wall. The whole structure is called a fruit. The flower is an
organ of asexual reproduction ( produce spore) and sexual reproduction ( produce
gametes ). All flowers have the same basic structure like they have petal, sepal and
many more but the total of part of flower and floral part be might different. The
different of flower we can see from the structure, type of symmetry, and pollination
structure this is because flower need to be comfortable their structure to make all the
process become success.
Question:

1. State the family, type of ovary and the symmetry of both flowers that are being
investigated.

Name of Flower Flame of the Forest Orchid

Fabaceae / Leguminosae
Family Orchidaceae
(Bean family)

Type of ovary Superior ovary Inferior ovary

Actinomorphic flower Zygomorphic flower

Symmetry of flower
(Radially symmetrical) (Bilaterally symmetrical)

2. What are the special features, which both flower has to ensure the success of
their fertilization process?

i. Flame of the Forest

The flowers have attractive colour and contain much nectar is evidenced by the
frequent visits of many species of birds; sunbirds, mynahs and babblers are usually
to be seen, hurrying from flower to flower.

ii. Orchid

Pollinators are often visually attracted by the shape and colours of the labellum. The
flowers may produce attractive odours. When the pollinator enters into the flower, it
touches a viscidium, which promptly sticks to its body. While leaving the flower, it
pulls the pollinium out of the anther, as it is connected to the viscidium by the
caudicle or stipe. The caudicle then bends and the pollinium is moved forwards and
downwards. When the pollinator enters another flower of the same species, the
pollinium has taken such position that it will stick to the stigma of the second flower,
just below the rostellum, pollinating it.
Reflection

Firstly thanks to God that still makes me breathing in this world with peacefully. I
would like to thanks to Pn. Siti Rogayah Binti Abdullah that always help me and my
friends to solve this experiment more professional and thanks to him again because
of his spirit to teach we her good personality. Then, thanks also to my all friend that
always help me to done this report.

Before we carried out this experiment, we had been informing what to do in

this experiment with clearly. We had been explained by our lecturer about how to
dissect this flower with carefully without any mistake. Through this experiment I feel
more excited because to do the experiment of dissection of the flower need patient
and knowledge because it is hard to see the inner part of flower like an ovule . This
experiment teaches us to think critically that develop our minds to set in critical
thinking skill to handle any situation in experiment time. Other that, through this
experiment I had get many thing about dissection of the Angiospermatophyta flower
because through this experiment we can know more deeply about how the flower
carry on the pollination that is involving many part of flower and other creatures.

Lastly I hope another biology experiment will come soon because I’m
excited to do the biology experiment and report. Apologize to all if my report has any
problems or error and I promise to do more carefully for the next experiment.
Reference

1. Pre-u Text STPM Biology Volume 2, Lee Ching, J. Arunasalam, PEARSON

MALAYSIA SDN. BHD.
2. Hassan Abdullah (2009). Biology for Matriculation Semester I. Shah Alam:
SAP Publications. Foo Yuen Kooi (2003). STPM Biology Volume I. Bangi:
Penerbitan Pelangi.
3. Web Page=Johnson R.S (2008). This is the title of a Web Page.
http://botanydeItaly.net. Accessed on 20 July 2010.
K.V. Fernandez (2006). This is the title of a Web Page.
http://www.lovingflower.com. Accessed on 20 July 2010.
Result & Observation:
Result & Observation: