Flower Dissection

A review of our Flower Dissection lesson

Dissection of the White Lily and Star Gazer Hybrid Lily

The "White" Lily Lilium Candidum

This member of the Lily family possesses a total of six petals & sepals, three on the outer ring and three on the inner ring.

The reproductive parts of the Lily are large and colourful to match the flower's size.

Six stamens and a pistil. Each stamen consists of a orange / brown anther, each supported by a thin green filament.

At the centre of the ring of stamens is a single green style, supporting a brown stigma.

The pistil is longer than the remaining stamens and appears sturdier.

Is there a reason for that?

The "Stargazer" Hybrid Lily Lilium Hybridum

In contrast to the earlier lily, this one has spectacular colourful petals of pink, red and white.

All the six orange-brown anthers are grooved and coated with huge amounts of pollen.

Unlike the stigma of the White Lily, the stigma of the Stargazer Lily is light green in colour.

Side view of the reproductive parts after I had removed a petal.

The lone pistil - After I had removed all the surrounding stamens

Spot the ovary?

Other Examples of Insect Pollinated Flowers

Some of the insect pollinated flowers that I came across when touring Osaka (Japan) a few years back.

Multiple stigmas spotted

Why would some flowers develop multiple stigmas?

The flower in the background was in the midst of developing into a fruit. Spot the swollen ovary which would eventually become the body of the fruit?

What are some of the common characteristics displayed by all these flowers here that help to facilitate insect pollination?

Wind Pollinated Flowers

Seashore Centipede Grass
(Photo credits to Rana Pipiens)
Note: Not to scale

Grass flowers are mainly wind-pollinated so grasses do not need to put much energy into developing flamboyant flowers to attract pollinators.

Observe the feathery stigmas?

Photo from http://visionsanasini.blogspot.sg/

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