Flowers of the Lowland Pacific Northwest
| Introduction | White | Red | Blue | Yellow | Brown/green | Edible |
| Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants. Millions of years ago, plant spores and pollen were broadcast on the wind or splashed by water. A new kind of plant evolved, which utilized insects to move pollen around. Flowers are ultimately designed to attract pollinators which carry pollen from plant to plant. Some flowers are specialized to attract certain kinds of pollinators, others are generalists and try and attract the broadest range of potential pollinators. Pollen is produced on structures called stamens. The pollinator, usually an insect, is attracted by sweet plant sugars. As it eats or gathers the nectar, its body gets dusted with pollen. When the insect moves to another plant, it unintentionally transfers grains of pollen to the Style, which is a tube which leads to the plants ovaries. The ovaries when pollinated, then form seeds, which are sometimes enclosed in a fruit.
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Parts of a flower |
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| Petals are colored, and the number of them is
diagnostic, usually in 3, 4 or 5. Sometimes petals are fused into
a cup, tube or other shapes. The petals attract pollinators.
Sepals are found under the petals or alternating between them, usually green, they often match the number of petals. Stamens are where the pollen is produced, they are small rods with tiny lumps on the ends. The Style is where the pollen moves to get to the ovary to fertilize the seed. There is usually only one, sometimes there are more. The Style has a tip called the stigma which is sometimes divided into 3,4 or 5 parts. |
| Leaf types |