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 Flowers & Fruits-OV

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The Flower represents the most important reproductive adaptation for plants. 

The Ovules of the flower are enclosed by the Ovary Wall or Pericarp. This protects and nourishes them during their development and maturation.

Furthermore, the Pericarp becomes the principal part of the Fruit.

Fruits not only add another protective layer and they have other  traits that have specific adaptations for seed dispersal via biotic and abiotic agents.

Ancestral or Primitive flowers contained many Sterile and Fertile Elements and relied on wind or water for pollination, fertilization and seed dispersal.

Derived or Advanced Flowers have highly specialized adaptations for both of these vital reproductive functions. The successful evolutionary explosion of Angiosperms could not have occurred without the advent of the flower.

The table below contains a few example of flowers which have various mixtures of Ancestral and Derived Traits. The "Primitive" flowers are on the left and the "Advanced" are towards the right.

WaterLilyPurple.jpg (48565 bytes)
Waterlilies have many floral structures. This is regarded as an Ancestral condition.

Potentilla.jpg (123167 bytes)

Potentilla, a member of the Rosaceae has Many Stamens and Many Carpels.

CactusYellowOpuntia.jpg (18557 bytes)
"Your love was like a desert flower burning in the sun .... Let it rain let it rain let your love rain down on me" Cactus flowers are amazingly beautiful and can inspire poetic thoughts! Some attract bats which effectively pollinate them while harvesting great quantaties of Pollen.

 AnemoneBee.jpg (41402 bytes)
Anemone is a member of the Ranunculaceae & relies on wind pollination. However, even unspecialized flowers may be visited by pollinators.

Potentilla.jpg (123167 bytes)
Potentilla, a member of the Rosaceae has Many Stamens and Many Carpels.

FrankliniaFlr.jpg (45027 bytes)
Franklinia a species  Named in honor of Benjamin Franklin has many Stamens. This species was barely saved from extinction.

BeeThistle.jpg (58958 bytes)
This bee is having a grand old time gathering nectar from this Russian thistle & is pollinating it in the process.

Strelitzia.jpg (31107 bytes)
Streletzia (Bird of Paradise) has an intimate relatuionship with Birds who pollinate it!

Columbine.jpg (33982 bytes)
Flowers like this Columbine have nectaries which attract Pollinators.
HummingbirdColumbine240.jpg (23131 bytes)

AsclepiasFlrsCircle.jpg (55301 bytes)
Members of the Milkweed Family have highly specialized flowers that have coevolved with specific insects who efficiently pollinate its flowers.

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Aristolochia has an extremely complex interrelationship with small flies that are lured inside and held captive until the flower matures and is pollinated successfully!

AristolochiaInsideAndroLab.jpg (66401 bytes)


Orchids have some of the most elaborate and specific relationships with Animal pollinatorsPaphioorchFlr.jpg (22942 bytes)
One orchid has flowers that resemble a female Insect. When the Male tries to copulate it pollinates the orchid!

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