Parts of a Flower Head

Sepal

• The sepal is the outermost portion of the flower head. This part of the flower head is the leafy green exterior that covers and protects the flower as it is developing. When the flower opens, the sepal spreads back, allowing the head to emerge.

Petals

• The petals are the most attractive feature on a flower head. They are brightly colored and appear in different shapes and textures. While humans enjoy looking at the beauty of the petals, they actually serve as a lure, attracting insects and other species to the flower to pollinate it.

Stamen

• The stamen is the male part of the flower head and is comprised of two elements: the anther and the filament. The flower's pollen is located on the anther. The pollen is held inside small sacs and is released when insects and animals brush against it. The pollen is used to fertilize the female parts of the same flower or another flower. The filament is the thin stalk on top of which the anther sits.

Pistil

• The pistil, sometimes referred to as the carpel, is the female part of the flower and is made up of the stigma, style, ovary and ovule. The stigma is typically located in the center of the flower head and is covered with a sticky substance, which the pollen adheres to. The style is the stalk on which the stigma sits. It raises the stigma up and away from the ovary to prevent contamination of pollen. The ovary usually sits at the bottom of the flower head. It is this part of the flower that will turn into fruit once it becomes fertilized with pollen. The ovule is similar to the eggs found in animals. When the flower is fertilized, it will turn into seeds, enabling more species of the flower to be produced.