Ranunculaceae - Buttercup Family Family Index Ranunculaceae, the Buttercup family, is a large family, globally, it consists of around 1,800 species in about 50 genera. The family occurs throughout the world, but is most abundant in temperate and cool regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. Ranunculus is Latin for "a little frog", the name applied by Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.D.) to a group of plants in this family that grows where frogs abound. It's not an economically important family. The commercially available species are almost all ornamentals. Some genera are important as poisonous plants. The poisonous properties of Aconitum and Delphinium are well known, particularly to those in involved with cattle. Many, possibly most, other genera contain poisonous species. The compounds involved vary but include alkaloids (in Aconitum and Delphinium), protoanemonin (in Anemone, Clematis, and Ranunculus), and cardiac glycosides (in Helleborus). A drink of Aconitum tea was the lethal drug used for giving the death penalty in ancient times.

Almost all members of the Ranunculaceae are herbaceous, but most species of Clematis are woody vines. The leaves are usually basal or alternate, but are opposite in Clematis. The leaves are usually without stipules, but stipules are present in Thalictrum, Caltha, and Ranunculus. The flowers are usually radially symmetric and bisexual, but Delphinium and Aconitum are bilaterally symmetric and Thalictrum has unisexual flowers. When both sepals and petals are present, there are usually 5, but sometimes 4, and sometimes no petals, but brightly colored sepals. The petals may have spurs that run between the sepals (as with columbines), or only some petals with spurs that run into the sepals (as in delphiniums). The flowers have numerous stamens, and either many pistils that develop into single-seed fruit or a few separate pistils that develop into many-seeded fruits. Fruits are either pods (follicles), seed-like (achenes), or berries.

Colorado State Flower - The Flower Expert - Flowers Encyclopedia Buy From OurStores Colorado State Flower Columbine Flower or Rocky Mountain Columbine-White and Lavender (Aquilegia caerules) is the official Colorado State Flower. Columbine flower is a spring-blooming flower. The Columbine flower (Colorado Blue Columbine) was designated as the Colorado state flower in April, 1899. The Columbine Flower, also known as the Colorado Columbine, was named from a Latin word Columba, which means dove, as it looked like the bird of peace. Kingdom Genus Aquilegia Columbine flowers grow from Nova Scotia to the Northwest territories and continue South into areas of Florida and Texas. Several species of Columbine flowers are grown in gardens for ornamental and landscaping purposes. Aquilegia vulgaris - a European Columbine is a traditional garden flower in British Isles, and several of the species that are native to North America are popular garden plants. Columbine flowers are known for their distinctive bell-shaped flowers, with each petal modified into an elongated nectar spur, and are very fragrant . In 1925, the General Assembly prohibited the destruction of this rare species - Columbine flowers.

Columbine flowers are very variable in color, from pale blue (as in the species name caerulea) to white, pale yellow and pinkish. Very commonly the Columbine flowers are bicolored, with the sepals a different shade to the petals. The Columbine flower is the most honored state flower in all of the United States. The Columbine flower transforms into a fruit with in five erect follicles and shiny black seeds. Columbine plants are popular for their distinctly unique Columbine flowers, which range in a variety of colors and spur lengths. The Columbine flowers are nodding at the tips with spurs that point upwards, and numerous yellow stamens project downward, well past the petals and sepals. The unique Columbine flower shape makes the plant well suited for attracting long-tongued nectar feeders, especially hawk moths and hummingbirds, while at the same time preventing small bees from reaching the nectar directly. Because of the hummingbird's slender bill and long tongue, the petite bird is able to reach the Columbine flower nectar from the base of the spur, ultimately acting as the Columbine Flower's most efficient pollinator.

Facts About Columbine Flowers Columbine plants grow from long carrot-like taproots, which aid in making them drought tolerant, and also caus the plant to be more difficult to move once established. The Columbine plant grows best in light shade but will tolerate full sun if daytime temperatures are not too hot. Columbine plants grow best in enriched garden soils that are well drained, avoiding heavy, slow draining clay soils. Columbine likes evenly moist soil.Columbine plants grow best in enriched garden soils that are well drained, avoiding heavy, slow draining clay soils. Columbine likes evenly moist soil. Columbine is grown easily from seed and typically blooms in the months of April thru July . Numerous other species and hybrids exist and range in a variety of climatic zones, colors, and heights. Columbines thrive in full sun or partial shade with rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils. If grown in full sun, Columbine Flowers generally bloom more extensively and are more compact in growth than those grown in shade. Columbine flowers have a rich history in the herbal market.

Native Americans were said to have used infusions from different parts of the plant for a variety of diseases ranging from heart problems to fever, and even to help relieve the pain of poison ivy. Columbine species cross pollinate easily, ultimately producing a variety of different hybrids. Similar in origin to Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine), Aquilegia chrysantha (golden columbine) originated in southwest North America and is known for its large golden flowers and tall stems, reaching 3-4 feet tall. Aquilegia vulgaris, or Granny's bonnet, is typically 1-3 feet tall with short-spurred, purplish blue flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. One common problem often seen among Columbine Flowers species is the presence of leaf miners, which produce unsightly, pale green lines on the leaves. Columbine flower' plants are used as food plants by some Lepidoptera species. Columbine Flower varieties Aquilegia caerulea var. ochroleuca Aquilegia caerulea var. pinetorum There are many online florists who deliver flowers to colorado.

You can send flowers, plants of your choice to your loved ones living in colorado or from colorado to other locations across the United States of America through these popular colorado Online Florists . from our stores - Pickupflowers - the flower expert Facts about Colorado Colorado is also called the Centennial State, because it became the 38th state when the U.S. turned 100 in 1876. Nicknames of Colorado also include Colorful Colorado. The capital city of Colorado is Denver. Colorado attained statehood on August 1, 1876. Colorado's total Area is 104100 sq.mi. Colorado state Bird is Lark Bunting. Colorado's border states are Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming. Cattle, wheat, dairy products, corn, hay are the main agrarian occupations of Colorado. The first European to enter the region was probably the Spanish conquistador Francisco Vsquez de Coronado in the 16th century. The highest point in Colorado is Mt. Elbert; 14,433 feet. The lowest point in Colorado is Arikaree River; 3315 feet.

Largest Cities of Colorado are Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Lakewood, Fort Collins, Arvada, Pueblo, Westminster, Boulder, Thornton Colorado's motto is Nil sine Numine, Nothing without Providence. Colorado's name has been taken from the Spanish word for the color redand was applied to the Colorado river. Population of Colorado is approximately 4,301,261; 24th, 12/00 Colorado has the highest mean altitude of all the US states. The Dwight Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel between Clear Creek & Summit County is the highest auto tunnel in the world. There are 11 national forests within the state of Colorado and 38 state parks and recreation areas. Colorado is known for its vast cattle ranges, agricultural acreage, and snow-covered mountains that are ideal for winter sports. Major industries include, agriculture (wheat, cattle, sheep), tourism (especially skiers), mining (gold, silver), oil, finance, and manufacturing . Dinosaur Fossils are found in Colorado. Colorado is the only state in history to turn down the Olympics. Colorado has more microbreweries per capita than any other state.

Adams State College, Colorado College, Colorado State University, Colorado Technical University, University of Colorado at Denver, University of Denver, University of Northern Colorado, University of Southern Colorado, Western State College in Colorado are some of the well known colleges. Colorado's places of interest include, Canon City, Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek etc. from our stores - Pickupflowers - the flower expert Subscribe Get 10% off on pickupflowers.com explore Columbine Flowers: Facts and Growing Tips Updated July 31, 2016. Taxonomy, Botany of Columbine Flowers Plant taxonomy classifies columbine plants, in general, as Aquilegia. For instance, Aquilegia canadensis is the red columbine. But there are a number of different species and cultivars (see below). This flower is in the buttercup family. Columbine plants are herbaceous flowering perennials . Qualities of Columbine Plants, Some of the Different Types Columbines come in many colors; some are even bi-colored. These perennials can have red, yellow, white, blue, pink, salmon, or purple blossoms . They are airy plants with attractive foliage (clover-like when young).

Their height will vary upon the particular type in question, but, on average, they reach around 2 feet in height (taller when in full bloom). They bloom in late spring to early summer and self-seed readily if you do not deadhead them (see below under Care). What makes the flowers of this genus so intriguing is the presence (on most, but not all kinds) of so-called "spurs." What do these spurs look like? continue reading below our video Red Wine? No Problem. 5 Secret Stain-Busting Fixes In the photo provided, take a look at the right side of the flower. Do you see those long, narrow appendages running horizontally? Those are the spurs. Other than A. canadensis, types include (all are cold-hardy to USDA zone 3): A. alpina (blue flowers) A. vulgaris var. stellata 'Black Barlow' (one of the darkest blooms) A. vulgaris 'Clementine Salmon-Rose' (salmon-colored blooms that lack spurs and look like the blossoms on a double-flowered clematis) A.

vulgaris 'Magpie' (bi-colored: dark purple edged with white) A. flabellata 'Nana' (standing just 6-9 inches tall, this is a white-flowering dwarf) Planting Zones, Sun and Soil Requirements Grow columbine plants in planting zones 3-9. There are columbine flowers native to many lands. Aquilegia canadensis, for instance, indigenous to the woods of eastern North America, is a wildflower often remarked upon by hikers for its bluish-green foliage. But there are types native to the Western United States, to Europe, and to Asia, as well. There are plenty of exceptions, but " partial shade " is the standard recommendation for columbine plants. Grow them in well-drained ground, and try to mix some humus into the soil. Often dwelling on rocky ledges in the wild, the drought resistance displayed by such columbine flowers as Aquilegia canadensis makes them good candidates for xeriscaping . Problems, Outstanding Characteristics for This Perennial The leaves of columbine plants often bear the "doodling" of leaf miners, the larvae of a kind of insect.

But the damage usually is not serious and gives the foliage a sort of randomly "variegated" look that I rather like. Consequently, I do not bother taking action against the leaf miners (there are plenty of insects that do greater damage to plants in my landscaping that I would rather concentrate my pest-control efforts on). If you really feel the need to control leaf miners, keep an eye out for the first signs of doodling. Once you spot it, just inspect the leaves for the larvae and crush them with your fingers. Other than this minor issue, the perennial is subject to few problems. For gardeners who truly dislike the doodling done by leaf miners, this pest problem is, nonetheless, more than offset by the positive characteristics of the plant. As stated above, columbine flowers come in a number of colors and furnish one's yard with considerable color in spring. But of equal value is the exquisite shape of columbine flowers. Besides their trademark "spurs" and often showy stamens, columbine flowers nod, and their centers sometimes take on a honeycomb look. Uses in Landscaping, How to Care for The Plants Once established, columbine plants are drought-tolerant perennials .

This makes them perfect for rock gardens or woodland gardens . Their attractive foliage suits them to use as edging plants . Columbine flowers are said to resemble jester's caps, and their effectiveness at attracting hummingbirds will certainly put bird watchers in a merry mood. Care for these perennials largely comes down to the question, "To deadhead or not to deadhead?" If you don't deadhead, the resulting seed production will sap the strength of your columbine plants, and they will decline and die out in about three years. But here is the tradeoff: columbine flowers are prolific re-seeders, so not deadheading will result in plenty of replacements. Interesting Facts: Origin of the Common Name, Latin Name The scientific name, Aquilegia (the genus name) derives from the Latin word for eagle, Aquila. Again, look at the photo that I have provided, and you may understand this word origin: their spur-like appendages can remind one of the outstretched talons of an eagle or hawk. The hawkish origin of the scientific name is, however, somewhat at odds with the derivation of the common name, "columbine" (from the Latin, columba), which refers to doves.

Apparently, some find a resemblance in the inverted columbine flower to five doves nestled together. For what it is worth, columbine flowers look more aquiline than dovish, to me. Need more choices for partially shady locations? See my article on the Best Perennials for Shade . A Close-up View of Three Buttercups A Close-up View of Three Buttercups Common (Meadow) Buttercup Ranunculus acris Swamp (Marsh) Buttercup Ranunculus septentrionalis Kidneyleaf Buttercup Ranunculus abortivus by Brian Johnston (Canada) All three of the buttercups discussed in this article grow near the edge of a stream which flows through a park in my neighbourhood. (The genus name Ranunculus translated from the Latin means ï¿½little frogï¿½. Like frogs, buttercup species live near the water.) The common buttercup is found some distance from the stream, while the other two species grow close to the waterï¿½s edge. All buttercups possess distinctively shiny, rather waxy looking, bright yellow petals. This phenomenon is due to a special layer of reflective cells beneath the petalsï¿½ surface cells.

As you will no doubt notice from the images that follow, this distinctive appearance depends very much on the angle between the light source, the flower, and the eye (or camera lens). Common (Meadow) Buttercup Ranunculus acris The species name acris was given due to the fact that the stems and leaves of the plant contain an ï¿½acridï¿½ poisonous juice which protects the plant from herbivorous animals. Common buttercup flowers possess five petals, and have a diameter of about three centimetres. The plant itself can be up to a metre in height, and has a rather thin stem. Flower petals may bend down (convex) at the edge as in the first image, or up (concave) as in the second. It is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish between common and swamp buttercup by observing the flowers. They are, for all intents and purposes, identical. What distinguishes the two species is a small difference in the stem leaves. Each of the three-lobed subdivided segments is joined to others without stalks. As you will see in the next section, swamp buttercup leaves have a similar structure, but the segments are joined together by short stalks.

The two images that follow show stalkless common buttercup leaves. Notice, in the image of a bud shown below, the hairless stem, and the five green, extremely hairy, sepals (modified leaves) that surround the bright yellow petals. (The ring of sepals is called the calyx of the flower.) When the flower first opens, the centre is filled by rings of bright yellow stamens . The image on the right shows that each anther (male pollen producing organ) has a deep vertical groove on its surface. Notice the many pollen grains that are present on the petalsï¿½ surfaces. Over a several day period, the stamens grow in length and separate. The thin stalks (filaments) that support the anthers become visible. At the centre of the flower, a round mass of light green pistils and their attached immature ovaries is revealed. Just above the surface of the petals, there is a ring of unusually shaped stamens which possess no anther grooves, and have thicker filaments. At the base of each petal, close to the mound of green pistils, there is a reservoir which contains the flowerï¿½s nectar.

When bees and flies alight on the centre of the flower to obtain the nectar, they cannot help but pick up a coating of pollen, which can then be transferred to another flower. This results in cross-pollination. Often, however, such insects disturb the anthers, and pollen falls onto the pistils of the same flower. This results in self-fertilization which is less advantageous to the plant. Since the number of pistils in a buttercup flower is large, the chance of all of them being self-fertilized is not great. The photomicrograph below shows a single anther, with its two lobes separated by a (lighter) groove. A stub of the filament can be seen at its base. Side views taken at two different magnifications reveal the many almost spherical pollen grains that coat the surface. Removal of a flowerï¿½s petals, and upper layer of stamens allows a better view of the central mass of pistils, and attached ovaries. Under the microscope, the inverted comma shape of each of the pistils can be seen clearly. Each pistil has a pollen covered stigma (female pollen accepting organ), a thick supporting style, and an egg-shaped ovary.

Viewed from above, (again under the microscope), the tops of a number of stigmas are covered in pollen. Here is a single pistil with its yellow pollen coated stigma, darker green style, and lighter yellow-green ovary chamber. Higher magnification of the pistil in the image above shows cellular detail at the edge of the ovary (left), and the curled tip of the stigma (right). Buttercup pollen grains are only roughly spherical in shape. They possess none of the interesting detail of many other wildflower species. Swamp (Marsh) Buttercup Ranunculus septentrionalis The image above, and the two higher magnification views that follow, show the flower of this species to be identical to that of the common buttercup. The photographs show a newly opened flower with its many stamens packed closely together in the centre of the flower, completely obscuring the group of pistils beneath. The only observable difference between the two species can be seen below. In swamp buttercup, the leaf segments are joined together by short stalks. (Compare this image with the ones earlier to see the difference.) Like the earlier species, this one has intensely hairy sepals clasping the unopened budï¿½s petals.

Both front and reverse views of a flower can be seen below. In the left image, note the round blister-like formation on the top right petal. These are common in buttercup flowers. (I suspect that the upper layer of cells has become detached from the base layer for some reason.) In the right image, you can see the five sepals which line up with the overlaps of the petals. Two additional images, using higher magnification, show the large number of stamens arranged in rings at the flowerï¿½s centre. Kidneyleaf Buttercup Ranunculus abortivus This species is quite different in appearance. The flowers are much smaller, 6 to 8 mm in diameter. The species name abortivus refers to this diminished petal size. The petals do not overlap, and there are fewer stamens than in the other species. The leaves at the base (basal leaves) are kidney-shaped, giving the plant its common name. The stem leaves are unstalked and divided into 3 to 5 lobes. Notice in the images that follow, the striking ellipsoidal (egg-shaped) group of central pistils.

In the second image, fine yellow pollen grains can be seen clinging to the upper surfaces of the stigmas. Both sepals and petals fall from the flower about the same time, leaving a cluster of carpels (immature seeds - better referred to as achenes). Eventually, the cluster elongates to an ovoid shape about 6 mm in length. Yellow is a common wildflower colour. Buttercup flowers have ï¿½value-addedï¿½ with their dazzlingly shiny surfaces and beautiful structure. Photographic Equipment Two-thirds of the photographs in the article were taken with an eight megapixel Sony CyberShot DSC-F 828 equipped with achromatic close-up lenses (Canon 250D, Nikon 5T, 6T, Sony VCL-M3358, and shorter focal length achromat) used singly or in combination. The lenses screw into the 58 mm filter threads of the camera lens.

(These produce a magnification of from 0.5X to 10X for a 4x6 inch image.) Still higher magnifications were obtained by using a macro coupler (which has two male threads) to attach a reversed 50 mm focal length f 1.4 Olympus SLR lens to the F 828. (The magnification here is about 14X for a 4x6 inch image.) The remainder of the photographs were taken with an eight megapixel Canon 20D DSLR equipped with a Canon EF 100 mm f 2.8 Macro lens. The photomicrographs were taken with a Leitz SM-Pol microscope (using a dark ground condenser), and the Coolpix 4500. References The following references have been found to be valuable in the identification of wildflowers, and they are also a good source of information about them. Dickinson, Timothy, et al. 2004. The ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Royal Ontario Museum & McClelland and Stewart Ltd, Toronto, Canada. Thieret, John W. et al. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers - Eastern Region.

2002. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. (Chanticleer Press, Inc. New York) Kershaw, Linda. 2002. Ontario Wildflowers. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, Alberta,Canada. Royer, France and Dickinson, Richard. 1999. Weeds of Canada. University of Alberta Press and Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Crockett, Lawrence, J. 2003. A Field Guide to Weeds (Based on Wildly Successful Plants, 1977) Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. New York, NY. Mathews, Schuyler F. 2003. A Field Guide to Wildflowers (Adapted from Field Book of American Wildflowers, 1902), Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. New York, NY. Barker, Joan. 2004. The Encyclopedia of North American Wildflowers. Parragon Publishing, Bath, UK. All comments to the author Brian Johnston are welcomed. Flower | Article about flower by The Free Dictionary Flower | Article about flower by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Medical , Legal , Idioms , Wikipedia .

flower, name for the specialized part of a plant containing the reproductive organs, applied to angiosperms only. A flower may be thought of as a modified, short, compact branch bearing lateral appendages. Like twigs, flowers develop from buds, and the basic floral parts (sepal, petal, stamen, and carpel) are in actual fact greatly modified leaves. A typical flower is a concentric arrangement of these parts attached at their base to the receptacle, the tip of the stem. Outermost is a whorl of leaflike green sepals (the calyx) encircling a whorl of usually showy, colored petals (the corolla). Within the corolla the stamens, bearing anther sacs full of pollen pollen, minute grains, usually yellow in color but occasionally white, brown, red, or purple, borne in the anther sac at the tip of the slender filament of the stamen of a flowering plant or in the male cone of a conifer. ..... Click the link for more information. , surround the central carpels (ovary).

Inside the ovary at the base of the pistil are the ovules, containing the female sex cells; after fertilization of the egg, the ovule becomes the seed seed, fertilized and ripened ovule, consisting of the plant embryo, varying amounts of stored food material, and a protective outer seed coat. Seeds are frequently confused with the fruit enclosing them in flowering plants, especially in grains and nuts. ..... Click the link for more information. and the ovary becomes the fruit fruit, matured ovary of the pistil of a flower, containing the seed. After the egg nucleus, or ovum, has been fertilized (see fertilization) and the embryo plantlet begins to form, the surrounding ovule (see pistil) develops into a seed and the ovary wall (pericarp) around the ..... Click the link for more information. . The ovary and stamens are termed essential flower parts, the petals and sepals accessory parts. The number and arrangement of the floral organs vary considerably among the many families and orders of plants and are used in the classification of plants; they also indicate the degree of evolution of the plant.

In general, the higher a plant is on the evolutionary scale, the greater is the flower's complexity. The basic number of parts differs from class to class and from family to family; in monocotyledonous plants the parts generally occur in groups of three or in multiples of three, and in dicotyledons more often in groups of two, four, and five. Flowers may be staminate (lack carpels), carpellate, or both; staminate and carpellate flowers may appear on the same plant, on separate plants, or in the same inflorescence. One type of inflorescence, characteristic of the parsley family, is the umbel, in which the tiny florets are borne on separate stalks radiating out from the stem tip. Sometimes the parts serve unusual purposes: the true flowers of the dogwood and the poinsettia are inconspicuous, and the showy "petals" are really modified leaves called bracts. In the jack-in-the-pulpit the florets are clustered on a spike canopied by a large bract, the spathe; the hood of the lady's-slipper, on the other hand, is a modified sterile stamen.

Grass inflorescences are tiny spikelets sheathed by protective scales called glumes (the chaff or grain). Flowers have been cultivated and bred for their beauty and their perfume from earliest times and have accumulated a vast and intricate treasury of symbolic associations derived from legend and folklore. Individual flowers have been celebrated in heraldry ( rose rose, common name for some members of the Rosaceae, a large family of herbs, shrubs, and trees distributed over most of the earth, and for plants of the genus Rosa, the true roses. ..... Click the link for more information. ), in religion (lotus), and in politics ( violet violet, common name for some members of the Violaceae, a family of chiefly perennial herbs (and sometimes shrubs, small trees, or climbers) found on all continents. Violets, including the genus Viola ..... Click the link for more information. ) and have become emblems for many countries, including Switzerland (edelweiss), France (fleur-de-lis), Scotland (thistle), the Netherlands (tulip), and the United States (see state flowers state flowers.

Each state of the United States has designated, usually by legislative action, one flower as its floral emblem; the rose has been designated by Congress as the national flower of the United States. ..... Click the link for more information. ). Bibliography See S. Buchmann, The Reason for Flowers (2015). Flower A higher plant's sexual apparatus in the aggregate, including the parts that produce sex cells and closely associated attractive and protective parts (Fig. 1). “Flower” as used in this article will be limited, as is usual, to the angiosperms, plants with enclosed seeds and the unique reproductive process called double fertilization. In its most familiar form a flower is made up of four kinds of units arranged concentrically. The green sepals (collectively termed the calyx) are outermost, showy petals (the corolla) next, then the pollen-bearing units (stamens, androecium), and finally the centrally placed seed-bearing units (carpels, gynoecium). This is the “complete” flower of early botanists, but it is only one of an almost overwhelming array of floral forms.

One or more kinds of units may be lacking or hard to recognize depending on the species, and evolutionary modification has been so great in some groups of angiosperms that a flower cluster (inflorescence) can took like a single flower. Flower structure, median longitudinal section Flora diversity Most botanical terms are descriptive, and a botanist must have a large store of them to impart the multiformity of flowers. The examples that follow are only a smattering. An extra series of appendages alternating with the sepals, as in purple loosestrife, is an epicalyx. A petal with a broad distal region and a narrow proximal region is said to have a blade and claw: the crape myrtle has such petals. The term perianth, which embraces calyx and corolla and avoids the need to distinguish between them, is especially useful for a flower like the tulip, where the perianth parts are in two series but are alike in size, shape, and color. The members of such an undifferentiated perianth are tepals.

When the perianth has only one series of parts, however, they are customarily called sepals even if they are petallike, as in the windflower. A stamen commonly consists of a slender filament topped by a four-lobed anther, each lobe housing a pollen sac. In some plants one or more of the androecial parts are sterile rudiments called staminodes: a foxglove flower has four fertile stamens and a staminode. Carpellode is the corresponding term for an imperfectly formed gynoecial unit. A gynoecium is apocarpous if the carpels are separate (magnolia, blackberry) and syncarpous if they are connate (tulip, poppy). Or the gynoecium may regularly consist of only one carpel (bean, cherry). A solitary carpel or a syncarpous gynoecium can often be divided into three regions: a terminal, pollen-receptive stigma; a swollen basal ovary enclosing the undeveloped seeds (ovules); and a constricted, elongate style between the two.

The gynoecium can be apocarpous above and syncarpous below; that is, there can be separate styles and stigmas on one ovary (wood sorrel). Placentation: (a) parietal, (b) axile, and (c) free central Every flower cited so far has a superior ovary: perianth and androecium diverge beneath it (hypogyny). If perianth and androecium diverge from the ovary's summit, the ovary is inferior and the flower is epigynous (apple, banana, pumpkin). A flower is perigynous if the ovary is superior within a cup and the other floral parts diverge from the cup's rim (cherry). A syncarpous ovary is unilocular if it has only one seed chamber, plurilocular if septa divide it into more than one. The ovules of a plurilocular ovary are usually attached to the angles where the septa meet; this is axile placentation, a placenta being a region of ovular attachment.

There are other ways in which the ovules can be attached—apically, basally, parietally, or on a free-standing central placenta—each characteristic of certain plant groups (Fig. 2). The term bract can be applied to any leaflike part associated with one or more flowers but not part of a flower. Floral bracts are frequently small, even scalelike, but the flowering dogwood has four big petallike bracts below each flower cluster. The broad end of a flower stalk where the floral parts are attached is the receptacle. The same term is used, rather inconsistently, for the broad base bearing the many individual flowers (florets) that make up a composite flower like a dandelion or a sunflower. Sexuality A plant species is diclinous if its stamens and carpels are in separate flowers. A diclinous species is monoecious if each plant bears staminate and carpellate (pistillate) flowers, dioecious if the staminate and carpellate flowers are on different plants.

The corn plant, with staminate inflorescences (tassels) on top and carpellate inflorescences (ears) along the stalk, is monoecious. Hemp is a well-known dioecious plant. Nectaries Flowers pollinated by insects or other animals commonly have one or more nectaries, regions that secrete a sugar solution. A nectary can be nothing more than a layer of tissue lining part of a floral tube or cup (cherry), or it can be as conspicuous as the secretory spur of a nasturtium or a larkspur. It can be a cushionlike outgrowth at the base of a superior ovary (orange blossom) or atop an inferior ovary (parsley family). Gladiolus and a number of other monocotyledons have septal nectaries, deep secretory crevices where the carpels come together. Substances that give off floral odors—essential oils for the most part—ordinarily originate close to the nectar-producing region but are not coincident with it.

Production by the epidermis of perianth parts is most common, but in some species the odor emanates from a more restricted region and may even come from a special flap or brush. Most insect-pollinated plants have visual cues, some of them outside the human spectral range, as well as odor to bring the pollinators to the flowers and guide them to the nectar. See Secretory structures (plant) Inflorescence Inflorescence structure, the way the flowers are clustered or arranged on a flowering branch, is almost as diverse as floral structure. To appreciate this, one need only contrast the drooping inflorescences (catkins) of a birch tree with the coiled flowers of a forget-me-not or with the solitary flower of a tulip. In some cases one kind of inflorescence characterizes a whole plant family. Queen Anne's lace and other members of the parsley family (Umbelliferae) have umbrellalike inflorescences with the flower stalks radiating from almost the same point in a cluster.

The stalkless flowers (florets) of the grass family are grouped into clusters called spikelets, and these in turn are variously arranged in different grasses. Flowers of the arum family (calla lily, jack-in-the-pulpit), also stalkless, are crowded on a thick, fleshy, elongate axis. In the composite family, florets are joined in a tight head at the end of the axis; the heads of some composites contain two kinds, centrally placed florets with small tubular corollas and peripheral ray florets with showy, strap-shaped corollas (the “petals” one plucks from a daisy). See Inflorescence Anatomy Some of the general anatomical features of leaves can be found in the floral appendages. A cuticle-covered epidermis overlies a core of parenchyma cells in which there are branching vascular bundles (solitary bundles in most stamens). Sepal parenchyma and petal parenchyma are often spongy, but palisade parenchyma occurs only rarely in flowers and then only in sepals.

As in other parts of the plant, color comes mostly from plastids in the cytoplasm and from flavonoids in the cell sap. Cells of the petal epidermis may have folded side walls that interlock so as to strengthen the tissue. In some species the outer walls of the epidermis are raised as papillae; apparently, this is part of the means of attracting pollinators, for the papillae are light reflectors. Stamen As a stamen develops, periclinal divisions in the second cell layer of each of its four lobes start a sequence that will end with the shedding of pollen. The first division makes two cell layers. The outer daughter cells give rise to the wall of the pollen sac, and the inner ones are destined to become pollen after further divisions. When mature, a pollen sac typically has a prominent cell layer just below a less distinctive epidermis. The inner wall and the side walls of an endothecium cell carry marked thickenings, but the outer wall does not. Splitting of the ripe anther is due partly to the way in which these differentially thickened walls react to drying and shrinking and partly to the smaller size of the cells along the line of splitting.

See Pollen Carpel Like other floral parts, a carpel is made up of epidermis, parenchyma, and vascular tissue. In addition, a carpel commonly has a special tissue system on which pollen germinates and through which, or along which, pollen tubes are transmitted to the ovules. Most angiosperms have solid styles, and the transmitting tissue is a column of elongate cells whose softened walls are the medium for tubal growth. The epidermis at the stigmatic end of a carpel usually changes to a dense covering of papillae or hairs; the hairs can be unicellular or pluricellular, branched or unbranched. In taxa with hollow styles, the transmitting tissue is a modified epidermis running down the stylar canal. There are two kinds of receptive surfaces, and they are distributed among the monocotyledons and the dicotyledons with taxonomic regularity. One kind has a fluid medium for germinating the pollen, and the other has a dry proteinaceous layer over the cuticle. The proteins of the dry stigmas have a role in the incompatibility reactions that encourage outbreeding.

Ovule Ovule development usually takes place as the gynoecium forms, but it may be retarded when there is a long interval between pollination and fertilization (oaks, orchids). A typical ovule has a stalk (funiculus), a central bulbous body (nucellus), and one or two integuments (precursors of seed coats), which cover the nucellus except for a terminal pore (micropyle). Orientation of the ovule varies from group to group. It can be erect on its stalk or bent one way or another to differing degrees. There are also taxonomic differences in the extent to which the ovule is vascularized by branches from the gynoecial vascular system. See Fruit , Reproduction (plant) Flower a short, limited-in-growth reproductive shoot that performs the functions of microsporogenesis, megasporogenesis, pollination (effected by pollen carrier-agents), fertilization, embryonic development, and fruit formation. The flower is borne at the end of a main or lateral stem. The peduncle, the part of the stem that bears the flower, is usually leafless.

Often it is very short and barely visible; in this case the flower is said to be sessile, or attached. The peduncle becomes the short axis of the flower, which is called the flower receptacle, or torus. The variously shaped receptacle is usually broader than the peduncle and is characterized by barely noticeable internodes. Its nodes bear all the various parts of the flower: the sterile sepals and petals and the fertile stamens and carpels. The sepals, which together form the calyx, usually serve as protective organs of the flower, especially before blooming; they often also function as supplementary organs of photosynthesis. The sepals often become petallike, taking on the functions of petals (for example, in Clematis). In some instances, through the process of evolution, the sepals have concresced into a synsepalous calyx. The petals, which serve to attract pollinators, are collectively known as the corolla. The calyx and the corolla together make up the perianth. When the flower has both a calyx and a corolla, the perianth is said to be double.

A simple perianth is one in which the petals are absent or in which there are no marked differences between the calyx and the corolla. In the center of the flower are located the stamens and carpels. The stamens are microsporophylls both in function and in origin. The most primitive ones, as seen in a number of representatives of the families Magnoliaceae and Winteraceae, consist of a broad ribbonlike membrane equipped with four linear microsporangia that are approximate in pairs and that are more or less embedded in the tissue of the membrane. In the course of evolution the stamens gradually became differentiated into the filament and the anther, which consists of two halves joined by a continuation of the filament. The stamens are known collectively as the androecium. The filaments often concresce together or with elements of the perianth or carpels. Sometimes the stamens concresce together by both the filaments and anthers or by the anthers only. The carpels consist of highly modified and specialized megasporophylls.

A single carpel is often called a simple pistil (the term “pistil” is used in various senses, often creating confusion). The most primitive type of carpel is retained in the genera Degeneria (family Degeneriaceae) and Tasmania (family Winteraceae). It consists of a short stalk and a relatively thin adaxially folded (conduplicate) membrane; externally it strongly resembles the conduplicate leaves folded into the bud. Along the carpel pass three conducting bundles (veins), of which the middle or dorsal one branches profusely. Between the middle and lateral veins are numerous ovules. In the early stages of development the margins of the carpels of Degeneria almost do not touch each other; protection of the ovules during flowering is ensured by the proximity of the broad lateral parts of the carpel, which are located between the carpel’s margins and placentas. These approximate internal surfaces concresce only after flowering, that is, during fruit development. The most diverse stages of concrescence are observed in other representatives of Winteraceae. In all flowering plants the carpel has a special glandular tissue, called the stigma, that serves to capture pollen.

In Degeneria and Tasmania the stigma is primitive and extends the entire length of the carpel. The upper part of the carpel usually extends into a slender, sterile columnar process, which supports the stigma above the ovary—the fertile part of the carpel—and serves as a passageway to the pollen tube. This specialized process is called the style or the stylodium (in which case the term “style” is only used in reference to concresced stylodia). In the early stages of evolution, the style is characterized by a descending stigma; in later stages the stigma gradually becomes localized at the top. The aggregate of carpels in the flower is called the gynoecium. The most primitive types of gynoecia with free carpels are called apocarpous; such gynoecia characterize Magnolia, Ranunculus, and Paeonia. In the process of evolution the carpels gradually concresced among themselves, and from the apocarpous gynoecium there emerged the coenocarpous gynoecium, in which the stylodia are free, or concresced to form the style.

The evolution of both the coenocarpous and apocarpous gynoecia was usually accompanied by a decrease in the number of carpels and, in most cases, in the number of ovules. An extreme form is the pseudomonomerous gynoecium, in which a single carpel is fertile and completely developed (as seen in elm, mulberry, nettle, and hemp). Most flowers have nectaries—special excretory organs for the production of nectar. Nectaries originated in the most diverse forms in the evolution of flowering plants and on the most diverse morphological bases, that is, on the most diverse parts of the flower. Primitive types of flowers are characterized by a relatively long receptacle, but in some cases, for example, in Myosurus and some Magnolia, there is a greatly elongated receptacle of secondary origin. In the process of evolution there has been a gradual shortening of the receptacle, as a result of which the flower parts have grown closer together and the initial spiral formation has changed to a cyclic one. The parts of a cyclic flower are usually arranged in whorls; less commonly, they are opposite.

Cyclic flowers are found more frequently than spiral ones. In an intermediate position are spirocyclic flowers, such as those of Ranunculus. Primitive flowers are actinomorphic (regular); that is, they can be divided by a vertical plane passing through the symmetrical axis into equal halves in no less than two directions. Owing to the biology of pollination, actinomorphic flowers gave rise to zygomorphic (irregular) ones, which can be divided into two halves only in a single direction (for example, the blossom of the sweet pea or snapdragon). In contrast to actinomorphic and zygomorphic flowers, which are both symmetrical, there are also asymmetrical flowers, which cannot be divided into two equal halves by a plane of symmetry (for example, cannas). Flowers may be bisexual or unisexual. Unisexual flowers originated from bisexual ones as a result of the reduction of the stamens in some cases and of the carpels in others. Unisexual flowers often retain the rudiments of stamens and carpels. It is conjectured that the flower is descended from the reproductive shoots of the supposed ancestors of flowering plants—seed ferns.

As a result of shortening, the shoot axis was converted into a receptacle. Simplification of the segmented microsporophylls and megasporophylls resulted in the simple unbranched stamens and carpels of flowering plants. (The hypothesis that the flower is descended from the strobile of Cycadaceae, Gnetaceae, or Bennettitaceae is improbable.) The evolution of the flower, like the evolution of the strobiles of various groups of gymnosperms, set off in various directions. Thus, current theories are based on the proposition that the fundamental parts of the flower—the stamens and carpels—are descended from the sporebearing organs of the ancestors of flowering plants. It is difficult to say with certainty whether these primitive spore cases were somewhat rounded or flat or whether they were achlorophyllous or green. It is most probable that they consisted of flat and more or less simplified, possibly lobular, sporophylls, which, especially if they were megasporophylls, probably partially performed the function of photosynthesis. REFERENCES Flowers (dreams) When we look at flowers, most of us feel some joy and vitality.

At the very least, we appreciate their beauty and see their value. Flowers are beautiful and in our dreams they could represent the simplest feelings of contentment or the deepest feelings of spiritual completeness. A circular flower is a friendly sign that could be the “mandala” symbol or the symbol of wholeness that represents the “psychic center of the personality.” Additionally, the colors could symbolize the psychic centers in our bodies called chakras. Flowers also represent hope and positive growth, along with simplicity, innocence, and possibly virginity. The Flora in Bryce Canyon National Park | Frommer's The Flora advertisement Great variations in elevation and the availability of water have resulted in numerous microclimates throughout these two parks. In one section, you can see desert grasses, sagebrush, and a few cacti; while in another, not far away, there might be deep green woods where maidenhair ferns and cottonwood trees thrive. Zion National Park boasts over 900 species of plants -- considered the richest diversity of plants in Utah -- while at Bryce Canyon the number is a bit over 400.

In the lower elevations, particularly in the hot, dry desert areas of Zion, you'll find cactus, mesquite, and yucca. As elevation increases, juniper and piñon are added, and eventually, in the high mountains of Bryce Canyon, you encounter a deep forest of fir and spruce, with stands of quaking aspen that turn a magnificent bright yellow each fall. While exploring Zion, be sure to watch for spring lines and their lush hanging gardens, which you'll see clinging to the sides of cliffs. Because sandstone is porous, water can percolate down through it until a harder layer of rock stops it. At that point, the water simply changes direction, moving horizontally to the rock face, where it oozes out, forming the spring line that provides life-giving nutrients to whatever seeds the wind delivers. Trees Aspen -- The most widely distributed tree in North America, growing from Alaska to southern Arizona, quaking aspen are found in Utah, above 7,500 feet of elevation, mostly above the rim and in the mountains at the southern end of Bryce Canyon, and along the cliffs and plateaus at Zion.

Named "quaking" for the trembling movement of the leaves at the slightest wind, aspens have white bark and almost heart-shaped green leaves that urn a striking yellow or gold in the fall. Deer and elk eat the twigs and leaves, and rabbits and other small mammals eat the leaves, buds, and bark. Bristlecone Pine -- The oldest known trees -- some have lived more than 4,600 years -- bristlecones that are more than 1,600 years old can be found at Bryce Canyon, usually along exposed, rocky slopes above 7,500 feet of elevation. Bristlecones have very short dark-green needles, which grow all around each branch and are often tightly packed, and dark-brown, cylindrical cones. The trees commonly have a gnarled, weathered appearance, due at least in part to their age and choice of environment. Cottonwood -- A member of the willow family, cottonwoods like lots of water and are usually found along streams or other permanent water sources. The narrowleaf cottonwood, found along water in Bryce Canyon, has skinny, green willowlike leaves that turn dull yellow in the fall.

The Fremont cottonwood, found in almost all moist areas of Zion, has large, triangular-shaped, shiny yellow-green leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall. Douglas Fir -- This large evergreen -- some can grow as tall as 200 feet -- has medium-size, blue-green needles and fairly large cones. Birds and various mammals eat the seeds, while deer eat the foliage. The Douglas fir is found at most elevations in the canyons and on the plateaus at Zion National Park. (There are good stands on the Kolob Terrace.) At Bryce Canyon, you'll find Douglas fir primarily above 7,500 feet of elevation, especially in the southern part of the park. Juniper -- Two types of juniper -- Rocky Mountain and Utah -- grow in the parks, most often in canyons and on rocky slopes. Utah juniper are usually seen at the lower and drier elevations -- below the rim at Bryce Canyon -- while Rocky Mountain juniper will grow throughout the parks up to 8,500 feet of elevation.

The Utah juniper has a short trunk and low spreading branches, with closely spaced yellow-green needles; the Rocky Mountain juniper is often taller, sometimes reaching 50 feet, with slender branches and short, gray-green needles. Both have berrylike cones that are a popular food for birds and other wildlife. The Utah juniper's "berries" are a dull blue, while the "berries" of the Rocky Mountain juniper are bright blue with a white coating. Piñon Pine -- Common throughout the southern Rocky Mountains, between 5,000 and 7,000 feet of elevation, piñon are found at both parks, although mostly below the rim at Bryce Canyon. They are usually fairly small and somewhat gnarled, with rough bark and light green needles up to 1 1/2 inches long that usually grow in bundles of two. The small, egg-shaped cones produce edible seeds, often called nuts, which are a popular food for both humans and wildlife. The piñon jay takes its name from the tree and its tasty seeds.

Ponderosa Pine -- This large, impressive tree, which is found in both parks, is easily recognized by its long needles -- up to 10 inches -- that usually grow in bundles of three. Adult trees have orange-tinted bark that has a fragrance similar to vanilla, and large reddish-brown cones that are round or egg-shaped. At Zion, look for the ponderosa pine along cliffs and high plateaus; it is found at Bryce Canyon on sunny slopes above and along the rim, in the campgrounds, and around the lodge. Shrubs & Ferns Maidenhair Fern -- A surprise in southern Utah's generally arid terrain, this moisture-loving fern, known for its delicate, lacy fronds and thin black stems, thrives in select areas of Zion National Park, near sources of water such as the Emerald Pools, and in hanging gardens, including those at Weeping Rock. Sagebrush -- Covering much of the American West, various types of sagebrush are found throughout Zion and Bryce Canyon. A shrub that normally grows in alkaline soil in arid areas, it can reach several feet tall, if it gets sufficient water.

A common food for deer and other animals, sagebrush has a fresh, pungent scent -- strongest when it's wet -- that is similar to the spice sage. It has tiny, gray-green leaves and sprouts small, white flowers in the fall. Three varieties grow at Bryce Canyon: big, black, and fringed; while big and old man grow at Zion. Yucca -- Not a cactus as many think, but a shrub, yuccas grow in dry, rocky areas of both parks. One of the prettiest plants in the Southwest -- absolutely stunning when it's in bloom -- the yucca was extremely important to early American Indians, who made baskets and sandals from its strong leaves, ate its fruits and flowers, and turned its roots into a shampoo. The plant has long, extremely tough green leaves with sharp spines on their tips that can be quite painful to the touch. In the spring or early summer, the yucca produces a tall stalk of large, white flowers. You'll find the narrow-leaf yucca at Bryce Canyon, and the Datil (broad-leaf) and Utah varieties at Zion.

Flowering Plants Claret Cup Cactus -- One of 14 varieties of cactus found in the desert areas of Zion National Park, the claret cup boasts one of the park's most beautiful flowers and usually produces its brilliant red blooms in the spring, sometimes as early as March. The cactus stem (the body) is gray-green, cylindrical, 3 to 4 inches across, and covered with long, sharp, curved spines. As plants mature, numerous stems may grow, and they are stunning when covered with flowers. Columbine -- A member of the buttercup family, columbine comes in a variety of shapes and colors. Flowers have five petals, but the overall appearance can vary quite a bit. Columbine usually prefers shady, moist areas, such as Zion's hanging gardens, but will also grow in rocky canyons and open meadows. Species at Zion are the golden columbine (with a beautiful yellow flower) and the western columbine (with red and yellow flowers). In Bryce Canyon, you'll find blue columbine (the Colorado state flower) in meadows above 7,500 feet and in the high forest at the southern end of the park.

Blooming season is late spring and early summer at Zion, and from mid- to late summer at Bryce Canyon. Larkspur -- Another member of the buttercup family, the larkspur is represented by several families in the drier areas of both parks, blooming in summer. Flowers are small -- about 1 inch across -- and are blue, violet, or white. Prickly Pear Cactus -- One of the easiest types of cactus to identify, as well as one of the most common, prickly pears have flattened paddle-shaped pads covered with spines. You'll find them throughout the drier areas of both parks, up to about 8,500 feet. Prickly pear usually bloom in late spring or early summer at Zion, a little later in Bryce Canyon, and the cacti produce pretty flowers, about 2 to 3 inches across. Flowers are mostly bright yellow, but sometimes pink or magenta. The plains and Engelmann prickly pear you see at Zion are similar to the types usually encountered throughout the Southwest, with dull green pads and rigid spines an inch or so long. A bit unusual is the grizzly bear prickly pear that grows at Bryce Canyon.

Although its pads are similar to other prickly pears, you can hardly see them because of what looks like long hair but are actually spines, which are flexible, white, and sometimes up to a foot long. Sacred Datura -- Dubbed the "Zion Lily" because of its abundance in the park, the sacred datura has large, funnel-shaped white flowers that open in the cool of night and are often closed by noon the next day. You'll see them frequently along roadsides and other areas where the soil has been disturbed, generally in dry, sandy soil below 7,000 feet of elevation. Also called the Southwestern thorn apple, the sacred datura's flowers are 5 to 8 inches long and just as wide -- the largest blossoms of any plant in southern Utah -- and bloom from early spring to fall. Because it blossoms at night, it is also sometimes called the moon lily. Warning: The sacred datura is highly poisonous, and if any part of the plant is ingested, it is likely to cause hallucinations, convulsions, and quite possibly death.

Sego Lily -- Found in the drier areas below the rim in Bryce Canyon and in the canyons, cliffs, and plateaus of Zion, the sego lily has delicate white flowers, each about 1 to 2 inches wide. Flowers appear in late spring or early summer, and each is bell shaped, with three petals. The sego lily is the Utah state flower, and the state's early Mormon settlers ate the plant's bulbs when food was scarce. Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. advertisement

Question: How many petals do buttercup and columbine flowers commonly have?
Answer: Five