Parts of Flower

The main parts of a flower are the sepal, the petals, the stamens, and the pistil, which work together to protect the plant and produce seeds.

Outer protective parts

• Sepals are the green parts located at the very base of the flower.
• The sepal holds all the flower petals securely together so they do not detach or fall off.
• Petals are bright and colorful structures arranged just above the sepal.
• The bright colors of the petals attract insects to come and land on the flower.

Inner reproductive parts

• Stamens are the structures that contain and carry all the flower's pollen grains.
• The pistil is made up of three connected sections: the stigma, the style, and the ovary.
• The stigma is the opening at the top of the pistil where incoming pollen grains enter the flower.
• The style is a thin, white-colored structure that runs down inside the flower to reach the ovary.

Pollination and fruit development

Pollination is the process where pollen grains from the stamens spread to other flowers. These pollen grains must enter a flower directly through its stigma. When pollen enters through the stigma, the flower can begin turning into a fruit. Inside the growing fruit, tiny little seeds develop into bigger seeds. While most fruits form through this process, certain flowering plants, such as the hibiscus, do not develop into fruits.

Steps to dissect a flower

• A small line is cut on the green sepal using a pin so it can be separated from the flower base by hand.
• The bright petals are gently peeled away one by one to reveal the stamens and pistil inside.
• A careful slit is made along the stamen layer without tearing the delicate parts within.
• Peeling back the stamen layer reveals the thin white style, the stigma, and the ovary, separated from the pollen grains.