Flower

Flowers in the Rose Garden, The White House

A flower is the bloom or blossom of a plant, and the part of a seed plant comprising the reproductive organs. It can be an perfect flower (capable of self-pollination) or an imperfect flower. A typical flower will have the male gametes, or pollen, held on small stalks which make it easy for the pollen to leave the flower for pollination, either via air currents or animal vectors (insect, birds, or beetles). The female gametes, which are the future seeds, are contained in the base of the flower, and pollen grains that are transported there merge with them to form the next generation.

Plants that produce flowers are called flowering plants, or angiosperms. Not all kinds of plants are thus classified; for example, ferns produce spores rather than flowers and are therefore not classified as angiosperms.

Flowers, besides their botanical function, are often prized by humans for their beauty. Many plants have been selectively bred to produce flowers with great appeal to us. Perhaps the rose is the best example of this.

Flowers are often a traditional part of important occasions such as weddings, funerals and graduations. They are often given to celebrate a happy occasion or given as a "thank you" or housewarming gift, or to cheer up someone in the hospital. It is traditional to give flowers on holidays including Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and on birthdays.

There are also many well known pictures of flowers by famous painters such as Claude Monet and Paul Cézanne.

Claude Monet, Bouquet de soleils

Paul Cézanne, Vase of Flowers

See Also

Garden, Kolpino, Russia.

• State flowers
• Mountain laurel
• Cherokee Rose
• Violet (flower)
• Achillea millefolium
• Plant
• Garden
• Gardening
• Sowing
• Permaculture

External Links

• Britannica Online Flower