THE FUNCTION OF FLOWERS

Monday, December 19, 2011

An herb plant in flower is preparing to reproduce. Most flowers are made up of four concentric parts. The outer part attached to the stem is the calyx, which are usually green. When the flower is in bud the calyx forms a protective layer over the corolla folded inside the second layer. The corolla is that which we normally think of as the flower, and is the part used in most recipes. Sometimes the petals are joined together to create a tube as in the foxglove. The next ring, inside the corolla, consists of male stamens which are made up of a filament and another at the top. Finally, at the centre of the flower is the female carpel which has the ovary at the base and the pistil at the top. The pistil is made up of the style and the stigma. Pollination occurs when the pollen from the stamens is transferred to the ripe, sticky surface of the stigma. This can be done by wind or insects. Most of the herb flowers which attract our interest are insect pollinated as these are the plants which have evolved bright colors, scent and glands of sweet nectar to entice bees and butterflies and, in passing entice us, too.