Classification Of Flowers | All Global Updates
Isabella Bartlett 
· Flowers are classified in various groups based on different criteria
§ Based on presence of male, or female or both reproductive structures§ Perfect/Bisexual/Hermaphrodite Flower· These flowers bear both male and female reproductive structures § Imperfect/Unisexual Flower· Bears male or female reproductive structures · Staminate flower (male flower)· Pistillate/carpellate flower (female flower)
§ Based on presence or absence of any structure§ Complete Flower· Flowers bear sepals, petals, pistils, and stamens§ Incomplete Flowers· Sepals, petals, pistils, or stamen is missing
§ Based on the number of flowers§ Simple flowers· One flower on an axis (receptacle)§ Compound flowers or Inflorescence · Have more than one flower on the receptacle or axis · The axis forms the rachis and florets are attached on pedicels§ Inflorescence are subsequently classified based on pattern of arrangement into;· Single inflorescence –same pattern of arrangement of florets· Compound inflorescence –complex pattern · Main inflorescences include;o Raceme (or racemose)o Spadix o Spikeo Corymbo Umbel o Head § Based on flora variations§ Flowers are grouped according to the placement of floral parts on the receptacle into;· Hypogynous flowerso Sepals, petals, and stamens are attached to a convex or conical receptacle at the base of the ovaryo The ovary is called superior and the perianth is inferior or hypogynous · Perigynous flowerso Sepals, petals, and sometimes stamens borne on the edge or margin of the receptacle and appear to form a cup around the pistil· Epigynous flowers o Sepals, petals, and stamens appear to arise from the top of the ovary o The ovary is inferior and the perianth is superior or epigynous§ Based on floral symmetry§ Regular or Actinomorphic flowers · Flowers divisible into symmetrical halves by more than one longitudinal plane through the axis§ Irregular or Zygomorphic flowers· Flowers divisible only by a single plane into two mirror-image halves§ Asymmetrical flowers· Flowers indivisible into identical or mirror-image halves on any plane
