Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Typically, the floral formula is used to represent the morphological characteristics of the flowers of a given plant family, rather than of a particular species. The following are the most commonly used symbols: [28] K = calyx; for example, "K5" indicates that the flower has 5 sepals. C = corolla; for example, "C3" means that the flower has 3 ...
Phytomorphology is the study of the physical form and external structure of plants. [1] This is usually considered distinct from plant anatomy, [1] which is the study of the internal structure of plants, especially at the microscopic level. [2] Plant morphology is useful in the visual identification of plants.
Most commonly, flowers are insect-pollinated, known as entomophilous; literally "insect-loving" in Greek. [61] To attract these insects flowers commonly have glands called nectaries on various parts that attract animals looking for nutritious nectar. [62] Some flowers have glands called elaiophores, which produce oils rather than nectar. [63]
Insects were among the earliest terrestrial herbivores and acted as major selection agents on plants. [37] Plants evolved chemical defenses against this herbivory and the insects, in turn, evolved mechanisms to deal with plant toxins. Many insects make use of these toxins to protect themselves from their predators.
Plants fall into pollination syndromes that reflect the type of pollinator being attracted. These are characteristics such as: overall flower size, the depth and width of the corolla, the color (including patterns called nectar guides that are visible only in ultraviolet light), the scent, amount of nectar, composition of nectar, etc. [2] For example, birds visit red flowers with long, narrow ...
Entomophily or insect pollination is a form of pollination whereby pollen of plants, especially but not only of flowering plants, is distributed by insects. Flowers pollinated by insects typically advertise themselves with bright colours, sometimes with conspicuous patterns (honey guides) leading to rewards of pollen and nectar ; they may also ...
One example of insect mutualism is the pollination of flowering plants by insects, a field of study known as anthecology. Primarily, various bee species work as pollinators of flowering plants, feeding on their nectar and in turn picking up their pollen and spreading it to other flowers. [ 28 ]
A study of the evolution of volatile chemicals in scarab beetles and flowers that attract them in the family Araceae showed that the insects had evolved the chemicals in the Jurassic Period while the plants evolved the attractants later in the Cretaceous Period. [16] The colours of flowers are another area of enquiry.