Flowering plant
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Magnoliophyta is the name for a division of plants known as the flowering plants or angiosperms. They are also known as the hylum Anthophyta. Their name is derived from the fact that they form the reproductive structure known as the flower. They also have true leaves, stems, and roots and the flowering plants comprise the majority of familiar plants including most agricultural crops, trees, shrubs, grasses, garden plants, and weeds.
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Anatomy
Flowering plants are mainly categorized by their ability to produce seeds inside a true ovary after it is done flowering. This ovary is what we call fruit.
Flowering plants are generally categorized and monocots and dicots, referring to the number of initial leaves (cotyledons) that emerge from the seed. Monocots have just one cotyledon. There are commonly known as the grasses or cereal crops. Dicots have two.
Other important part of the plants anatomy include the roots, leaves, stem, petals, and sepals, each having specializations important for plant survival.
Reproduction
Flowering plants primarily reproduce sexually, of which there are a variety of types. They can have both male and female reproductive parts, but there are also types that have either male or female parts only. A flower that contains all parts required for fertilization, as well as the pedals and sepals, is known as a complete flower. A flower that is missing any of these four parts is called an incomplete flower.
- Stamen, anther, and filament are the male parts of a flowering plant. The anther and filament make up the stamen, which produces pollen.
- The pistil (made up by the stigma, style and ovary) is the female part. The sticky center of a flower is the stigma, which collects the pollen. The ovary holds all of the ovules, which are the seeds.
Unlike gymnosperms, which are fertilized primarily by wind, angiosperms are fertilized primarily by pollination. Insects, such as bees, play an important role. As they move from flower to flower collecting pollen or nectar, the pollen is transferred to other plants. This process is called cross-pollination and, although complete flowers can self pollinate, cross-pollination is the prefered method. Some flowers will regect their own pollen to achieve this, but will self-pollinate if they do not recieve pollen from another angiosperm.
Uses
Agriculture
Fruits come from flowering plants, making flowering plants a big part of agriculture. The actual fruit is the plant’s ovary containing seeds. Some of these fruits include: tomatoes, apples, strawberries, and bananas. Because people are trying to eat healthier, fruits have come into somewhat of a high demand.
Ornamentals
Since the mid-1980’s flower growers in Latin America have been increasing the amount of flowers grown to send to wealthier nations. Flowers, including roses, gerbera daisies, and carnations, have been in high demand mainly as cut flowers, but also as plants for gardens. A bouquet of flowers or a garden full of flowers is very popular and well-known in America and many other wealthy countries. People like to look at and smell them.
Ecology
Flowers require water, soil, and sunlight. The sunlight and water are required for the process of photosynthesis, which creates the chemical potential energy (glucose) for the majority of lifeforms on Earth. Soil is also important because it keeps the roots planted in the ground, and it gathers water and nutrients that are important for the plant’s survival.
Gallery
 Daffodil |
 Rose |
 Lily |
 Orchid |
 Daisy |
 Hibiscus |
 Azalea |
 Tulip |
Related References
- Flowering Plant Wikipedia
- Intro to Anthophyta Berkeley
- Angiosperms Tree of Life
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