Title:

Investigating the structure of the flowers, Angiospermatophyta.

Introduction:
A flower consists of whorls of modified leaves which collectively produce,
protect and ensure the union of the gametes. The whorls are attached to a
receptacle, the expanded end of the flower stalk. The parts of the flower from the
outside are calyx, corolla, androecium, and gynoecium.
There is a wide variation in flower structure. Flowers of different species may
differ in the numbers, arrangement and the degree of fusion of the component parts.
Radially symmetrical flowers are called actinomorphic and bilaterally symmetrical
flowers are called ygomorphic flowers. Floral diagram provides a plan of the flower
as viewed from above. It looks like a diagrammatic cross!section.
In this lab, we want to investigate the morphology of the "ibiscus flower and
its relation to its functions. #e also want to know the family, type of ovary, and the
symmetry of hibiscus sp and orchid sp. $ot only that, we want to investigate the
flower%s special features that is needed to ensure the success of their fertiliation
process.
Hibiscus sp
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, known collo&uially as the 'hinese hibiscus, 'hina
rose and shoe flower, is an evergreen flowering shrub native to (ast Asia. It is widely
grown as an ornamental plant throughout the tropics and subtropics.
The flowers are large, generally red in the original varieties, and firm, but
generally lack any scent. $umerous varieties, cultivars, and hybrids are available,
with flower colors ranging from white through yellow and orange to scarlet and
shades of pink, with both single and double sets of petals.
)espite their sie and red hues attractive to nectar!feeding birds, they are not
visited regularly by hummingbirds when grown in the $eotropics. *eneralists, like
the +apphire!spangled (merald, Amazilia lactea, or long!billed species, like the
+tripe!breasted +tarthroat, Heliomaster squamosus, are occasionally seen to visit it,
however. In the subtropical and temperate Americas, hummingbirds are attracted to
them on a regular basis.
Orchid sp
,rchidaceae, commonly referred to as the ,rchid family, is a morphologically
diverse and widespread family of monocots. ,rchidaceae are well known for the
many structural variations in their flowers.+ome orchids have single flowers but most
have a racemose inflorescence, sometimes with a large number of flowers. The
flowering stem can be basal, that is produced from the base of the tuber, like in
Cymbidium, apical, meaning it grows from the apex of the main stem, like in
Cattleya, or axillary, from the leaf axil, as in Vanda.
As an apomorphy of the clade, orchid flowers are primitively ygomorphic
-bilaterally symmetrical., although in some genera like Mormodes, Ludisia, Macodes
this kind of symmetry may be difficult to notice.The orchid flower, like most flowers of
monocots, has two whorls of sterile elements. The outer whorl has three sepals and
the inner whorl has three petals. The sepals are usually very similar to the petals, but
may be completely distinct.
The upper medial petal, called the labellum or lip, is always modified and
enlarged. The inferior ovary or the pedicel usually rotates /01 degrees, so that the
labellum, goes on the lower part of the flower, thus becoming suitable to form a
platform for pollinators. This characteristic, called resupination occurs primitively in
the family and is considered apomorphic.
A floral formula is a way to represent the structure of a flower using specific letters,
numbers, and symbols. Typically, a general formula will be used to represent the
flower structure of a plant family rather than a particular species. The following
representations are used2
Ca = calyx -sepal whorl3 e. g. 'a
4
5 4 sepals.
Co = corolla -petal whorl3 e. g., 'o
6-x.
5 petals some multiple of three .
Z = add if zygomorphic -e. g., 'o7
8
5 ygomorphic with 8 petals.
A = androecium -whorl of stamens3 e. g., A
9
5 many stamens.
G = gynoecium -carpel or carpels3 e. g., *
/
5 monocarpous.
x2 to represent a :variable number:
92 to represent :many:
A floral formula would appear something like this2
Ca
5
Co
5
A
10 -
G
1


Materials:
A bud of hibiscus sp
A bud of orchid sp
/ ;ight <icroscope
= 'over slips
A sharp scalpel
A hand lens
A pair of forceps
= <icroscope slide
A white tile
A tissue
A forceps
A bottle of distilled water
Methods:
/. The hibiscus was observed.
=. The whole parts of the hibiscus were drawn.
6. Then, the flower was cut into two e&ual halves using a sharp scalpel.
>. The cross!section of the ovary then was observed and drawn in paper.
4. #ith using a forceps, the pollen is taken from the flower.
8. The wet amount of pollen was made.
?. Then the pollen was observed under the microscope.
0. The structure of pollen then was drawn in the paper.
@. +teps /! 0 was repeated using orchid flower.
Observation:
"ibiscus flower2
)uring the experiment, I know that the hibiscus flowers are large,
conspicuous, trumpet!shaped, with five petals The petals are silky and ruffled.
Flower colour in this species is red. The fruit is a dry five!lobed capsule, containing
several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule dehisces -splits
open. at maturity. The diameter of the flower is about ?cm long.
Furthermore, from the observation I know that this flower is actinomorphic
flowers that are radially symmetry.
,rchids flower2
)uring the experiment, I know that orchids flower is ygomorphic flower
-radially symmetry.. This orchids flower is a beautiful flower because the colour is
very colourful. It has a violet and white colour. The orchid flower is about 4cm in
diameter. The pattern of the flower is like the insects because it having the sepals
that look like the wing of insects.
Furthermore, the orchids flowers has a fragrance smell. The smell is so
sweet and can attract insects. A stamen and stigma for orchid flower was combine
into a column. It has long style that be comfort for stigma. The anther is made up of
the anther cap and = pollinia. The petals and the sepals attach to the base of the
column where it Aoins with the ovary.
iscussion:
In this experiment two types of flower that is hibiscus and orchid was
observed. From the observation, I found that the hibiscus flower is a actinomorphic
flower -radially symmetrical. while the orchids is a ygomorphic flower -bilaterally
symmetrical.. "ibiscus floral formula can be represent by Ca
5
Co
5
A
5
G
1
while the
floral formula for orchid is Ca
3
Co
3
A
2
G
3.
$ot only that, I also found that the ovary
position the hibiscus is superior while the ovary position of the orchids is inferior.
Then when the flowers were cut into halves, we had observed the structure
and the picture of the cross!sectional area was drawn. Then the pollen was taken
out. $ext, we make the wet amount of the pollen and observe it under the
microscope. The structure of the pollen is then drawn.
From the experiment, we can see that the pollen grain of the flower. <ature
angiosperm pollen grains are unusual vegetative cells

that contain within themselves
sperm cells, complete with cell

walls and plasma membranes. This arrangement is
accomplished

soon after meiosis, when an asymmetric mitotic division produces

a
large cell that engulfs its diminutive sister! the generative. +ubse&uently,

the
generative cell undergoes a second mitosis to form the second

sperm cell re&uired
for double fertiliation3 :tricellular:

pollen completes this division before it is released
from the

anther, whereas :bicellular: pollen undergoes this division

only later, within
the elongating pollen tube. These categories

do not apply to gymnosperm pollen
grains, which can contain

a score of cells and differ from angiosperm pollen in
several

other respects.
#e had learned that, the structure of the flowers is the factor of the
pollination. It helps the pollinator to attract to this flower. $ot only that, we also
learned that the parts of the flower that uses for pollination. From the internet, I also
learned how to use the microscope correctly. Before this, I had already uses this
microscope but I really forgot how to handle it. #hen conducting the experiment, I
cannot see the pollen grain clearly.
Conclusion:
This lab investigated the morphology of the hibiscus and the orchids and its
relation to its functions. The flowers were observed physically and were drawn in the
plain paper. $ot only that, the floral formula of the flower had been gotten from this
experiment. The floral formula for hibiscus is C
-4.
'
4
A
. By this lab, we can know the structure of the flowers and how its help in
pollination. For the hibiscus flower, it has the bright red colour. This helps it to attract
the insect to this flower. Furthermore, it have anther and the pollen grain is attached
to the anther. The pollen grain is outside the flower. This pollen grain is a source of
food for some bird and insects. "ence, when the insects went to this pollen to get the
food, the same time it help the pollen grain to move to the stigma.
For the orchid, it has the beautiful structure. The structure of the orchid is like
an insect. The sepal of the orchid is like a wing of insect. Dollinators are often
visually attracted by the shape and colours of the labellum. The flowers may produce
attractive odours. Although absent in most species, nectar may be produced in a
spur of the labellum, on the point of the sepals or in the septa of the ovary, the most
typical position amongst the Asparagales.In orchids that produce pollinia, pollination
happens as some variant of the following. #hen the pollinator enters into the flower,
it touches a viscidium, which promptly sticks to its body, generally on the head or
abdomen. #hile leaving the flower, it pulls the pollinium out of the anther, as it is
connected to the viscidium by the caudicle or stipe. The caudicle then bends and the
pollinium is moved forwards and downwards. #hen the pollinator enters another
flower of the same species, the pollinium has taken such position that it will stick to
the stigma of the second flower, Aust below the rostellum, pollinating it.
#e also found the characteristic of the flower that is2
Flower "ibiscus ,rchid
$umber of petal 4 6
$umber of sepal 4 6
'olour of petal Red Durple
'olour of sepal Red Durple
$umber of stamen 4 =
$umber of carpel / 6
Floral formula
Ca
5
Co
5
A
5
G
1
Ca
3
Co
3
A
2
G
3
Floral symmetry Actinomprphic 7ygomorphic
,vary position +uperior Inferior
Type of flower Derfect flower Derfect flower
In order to study the problem, we should observe the flower critically. #e
should examine the pollen. The pollen should need to put under microscope to
observe the physical of the pollen.
<y results showed that some of my result is error. This is because of the
pollen grain cannot seen clearly. +o, I cannot see the right image of the pollen
clearly. The pollen see overlap.
I believe the result is not really accurate. In order to further investigate this
problem, I should make the wet mount carefully. The pollen grain should be spread
clearly on the microscope slides.
"e#erences
)r. +hakina )esa E 'o. -=11?.. College Matriculation Biology -/
st
ed... +elangor2
IDTA Dublications
+tevens, D. F. -=11/ onwards.. Angiosperm hylogeny !ebsite Fersion @,
http2GGwww.<obot.org. Accessed on =? Huly =1/1
$o Author,-/@@0 onwards. Hibiscus ollination"
http2GGwww.gardengrapevine.comG"ibiscusRed.html. Accessed on =6 Huly =1/1
$o Author -=111. Hibiscus #ational $lo%er &f Malaysia"
http2GGwww.nature.com.myGgreenGspeciesGhibiscus.htm. Accessed on =4 Huly
=1/1.
$o Author -=114!=118. &rchids &f Malaya" http2GGwww.orchidenthusia.comG.
Accessed on =4 Huly =1/1.