Petal

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(Redirected from Corolla (flower))
For other uses, see Petal (disambiguation).
Diagram showing the parts of a mature flower. In this example the perianth is se
parated into a calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals)
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They
are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together
, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompa
nied by another set of special leaves called sepals, that collectively form the
calyx and lie just beneath the corolla. The calyx and the corolla together make
up the perianth. When the petals and sepals of a flower are difficult to disting
uish, they are collectively called tepals. Examples of plants in which the term
tepal is appropriate include genera such as Aloe and Tulipa. Conversely, genera
such as Rosa and Phaseolus have well-distinguished sepals and petals. When the u
ndifferentiated tepals resemble petals, they are referred to as "petaloid", as i
n petaloid monocots, orders of monocots with brightly coloured tepals. Since the
y include Liliales, an alternative name is lilioid monocots.
Although petals are usually the most conspicuous parts of animal-pollinated flow
ers, wind-pollinated species, such as the grasses, either have very small petals
or lack them entirely.

Tetrameric flower of a Primrose willowherb (Ludwigia octovalvis) showing petals

and sepals
A Tulip's actinomorphic flower with three petals and three sepals, that collecti
vely present a good example of an undifferentiated perianth. In this case, the w
ord "tepals" is used.
Contents [hide]
1 Corolla
2 Variations
3 Genetics
4 Significance of pollination
5 Functions and purposes of petals
5.1 Scent
5.2 Colour
5.3 Shape and size
6 Types of pollination
6.1 Wind pollination
6.2 Attracting insects
6.3 Attracting birds
6.4 Bat-pollinated flowers
7 References
8 Bibliography
Corolla[edit]
Corolla forming a tube with long points (and a separate green calyx tube)
The role of the corolla in plant evolution has been studied extensively since Ch
arles Darwin postulated a theory of the origin of elongated corollae and corolla
tubes.[1]
If the petals are free from one another in the corolla, the plant is polypetalou
s or choripetalous; while if the petals are at least partially fused together, i
t is gamopetalous or sympetalous. The corolla in some plants forms a tube.
Variations[edit]
Pelargonium peltatum: its floral structure is almost identical to that of gerani
ums, but it is conspicuously zygomorphic
Geranium incanum, with an actinomorphic flower typical of the genus
White pea, a zygomorphic flower
Narcissus pseudonarcissus, showing from the bend to the tip of the flower: spath
e, floral cup, tepals, corona
Petals can differ dramatically in different species. The number of petals in a f
lower may hold clues to a plant's classification. For example, flowers on eudico
ts (the largest group of dicots) most frequently have four or five petals while
flowers on monocots have three or six petals, although there are many exceptions
to this rule.[2]
The petal whorl or corolla may be either radially or bilaterally symmetrical (se
e Symmetry in biology and Floral symmetry). If all of the petals are essentially
identical in size and shape, the flower is said to be regular or actinomorphic
(meaning "ray-formed"). Many flowers are symmetrical in only one plane (i.e., sy
mmetry is bilateral) and are termed irregular or zygomorphic (meaning "yoke-" or
"pair-formed"). In irregular flowers, other floral parts may be modified from t
he regular form, but the petals show the greatest deviation from radial symmetry
. Examples of zygomorphic flowers may be seen in orchids and members of the pea
family.
In many plants of the aster family such as the sunflower, Helianthus annuus, the
circumference of the flower head is composed of ray florets. Each ray floret is
anatomically an individual flower with a single large petal. Florets in the cen
tre of the disc typically have no or very reduced petals. In some plants such as
Narcissus the lower part of the petals or tepals are fused to form a floral cup
(hypanthium) above the ovary, and from which the petals proper extend.[3][4][5]
Petal often consists of two parts: the upper, broad part, similar to leaf blade,
called the limb and the lower part, narrow, similar to leaf petiole, called the
claw. Claws are developed in petals of some flowers of the family Brassicaceae,
such as Erysimum cheiri.[6]
The inception and further development of petals shows a great variety of pattern
s.[7] Petals of different species of plants vary greatly in colour or colour pat
tern, both in visible light and in ultraviolet. Such patterns often function as
guides to pollinators, and are variously known as nectar guides, pollen guides,
and floral guides.
Genetics[edit]
The genetics behind the formation of petals, in accordance with the ABC model of
flower development, are that sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels are modified
versions of each other. It appears that the mechanisms to form petals evolved ve
ry few times (perhaps only once), rather than evolving repeatedly from stamens.[
8]
Significance of pollination[edit]
Pollination is an important step in the sexual reproduction of higher plants. Po
llen is produced by the male flower or by the male organs of hermaphroditic flow
ers.
Pollen does not move on its own and thus requires wind or animal pollinators to
disperse the pollen to the stigma (botany) of the same or nearby flowers. Howeve
r, pollinators are rather selective in determining the flowers they choose to po
llinate. This develops competition between flowers and as a result flowers must
provide incentives to appeal to pollinators (unless the flower self-pollinates o
r is involved in wind pollination). Petals play a major role in competing to att
ract pollinators. Henceforth pollination dispersal could occur and the survival
of many species of flowers could prolong.
Functions and purposes of petals[edit]
Petals have various functions and purposes depending on the type of plant. In ge
neral, petals operate to protect some parts of the flower and attract/repel spec
ific pollinators. Flower Petal Function: This is where the positioning of the fl
ower petals are located on the flower is the corolla e.g. the buttercup having s
hiny yellow flower petals which contain guidelines amongst the petals in aiding
the pollinator towards the nectar. Pollinators have the ability to determine spe
cific flowers they wish to pollinate.[9] Using incentives flowers draw pollinato
rs and set up a mutual relation between each other in which case the pollinators
will remember to always guard and pollinate these flowers (unless incentives ar
e not consistently met and competition prevails).[10]
Scent[edit]
The petals could produce different scents to allure desirable pollinators[citati
on needed] and/or repel undesirable pollinators.[citation needed] Some flowers w
ill also mimic the scents produced by materials such as decaying meat, to attrac
t pollinators to them.[11]
Colour[edit]
Various colour traits are used by different petals that could attract pollinator
s that have poor smelling abilities, or that only come out at certain parts of t
he day. Some flowers are able to change the colour of their petals as a signal t
o mutual pollinators to approach or keep away.[12]
Shape and size[edit]
Furthermore, the shape and size of the flower/petals is important in selecting t
he type of pollinators they need. For example, large petals and flowers will att
ract pollinators at a large distance and/or that are large themselves.[12] Colle
ctively the scent, colour and shape of petals all play a role in attracting/repe
lling specific pollinators and providing suitable conditions for pollinating. So
me pollinators include insects, birds, bats and the wind.[12] In some petals, a
distinction can be made between a lower narrowed, stalk-like basal part referred
to as the claw, and a wider distal part referred to as the blade. Often the cla
w and blade are at an angle with one another.
Types of pollination[edit]
Wind pollination[edit]
Main article: Anemophily
Wind-pollinated flowers often have small dull petals and produce little or no sc
ent. Some of these flowers will often have no petals at all. Flowers that depend
on wind pollination will produce large amounts of pollen because most of the po
llen scattered by the wind tends to not reach other flowers.[13]
Attracting insects[edit]
Flowers have various regulatory mechanisms in order to attract insects. One such
helpful mechanism is the use of colour guiding marks. Insects such as the bee o
r butterfly can see the ultraviolet marks which are contained on these flowers,
acting as an attractive mechanism which is not visible towards the human eye. Ma
ny flowers contain a variety of shapes acting to aid with the landing of the vis
iting insect and also influence the insect to brush against anthers and stigmas
(parts of the flower). One such example of a flower is the phutukawa (Metrosidero
s excelsa) which acts to regulate colour within a different way. The phutukawa co
ntains small petals also having bright large red clusters of stamens.[12] Anothe
r attractive mechanism for flowers is the use of scent which is highly attractiv
e towards humans such as the rose, but some are very fragrant within attracting
flies as they have a smell of rotting meat. Dark is another factor in which flow
ers have grown to adapt these conditions so colour lacks vision at night therefo
re scent is the solution for flowers which are pollinated by night flying insect
s such as the moth.[12]
Attracting birds[edit]
Flowers are also pollinated by birds and must be large and colorful to be visibl
e against natural scenery. Such bird pollinated native plants include: Kwhai (Soph
ora species), flax (Phormium tenax, harakeke) and kk beak (Clianthus puniceus, kwha
i ngutu-kk). Interestingly enough, flowers adapt the mechanism on their petals to
change colour in acting as a communicative mechanism for the bird to visit. An e
xample is the tree fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata, ktukutuku) which are green when
needing to be pollinated and turn red for the birds to stop coming and pollinati
ng the flower.[12]
Bat-pollinated flowers[edit]
Flowers can be pollinated by short tailed bats. An example of this is the dactyl
anthus (Dactylanthus taylorii). This plant has its home under the ground acting
the role of a parasite on the roots of forest trees. The dactylanthus has only i
ts flowers pointing to the surface and the flowers lack colour but have the adva
ntage of containing lots of nectar and a very strong scent. These act as a very
useful mechanism in attracting the bat.[14]
References[edit]
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