Parts of a Flower & the Receptacle

Stamen

• The male reproductive portion of a flower is called the stamen, which is located inside the petals at the center of the flower. The stamen is made of two main parts: a thin, stick-like stalk called the filament and a small rounded or oblong growth at the very end of the filament, called the anther. The microsporangia, or pollen sacs, inside the anther are responsible for the production of pollen, which is carried by insects, animals or the wind from the surface of the anther.

Pistil

• The female reproductive part of a flower is called the pistil. The very center of the flower holds the pistil, which is typically shaped like a bowling pin. The pistil is comprised of the ovary, stigma and style. At the base of the pistil, the ovary contains ovules, or small eggs, and produces new seeds for dispersal when successfully pollinated. In some plants, the ripened ovary becomes a fruit (a strawberry or melon, for example) responsible for dispersing the seeds. The style connects the ovary to the stigma at the top of the pistil. The stigma receives pollen, which can be deposited by air, insects or other animals. Once the pollen reaches the stigma, a successful pollination produces a fertilized egg, which becomes a seed.

Sepal

• The sepals lie underneath a flower's petal and provide protection. They are typically green and are not noticeable when the flower is open. Sepals are modified leaves that might look like scales or ridges and have a stepped pattern. When the flower closes, the sepals - collectively called calyx - protect the flower bud. In some cases, the calyx may be the same color as the petals; they are then called tepal, instead of sepal.

Petals

• The petals of a flower capture the attention of humans and animals. They surround the stamen or pistil. Collectively, they are called the corolla and might have nectar glands. Scientists use petals to determine a plant's classification by noting the number of petals and their shape, texture, color and configuration.

Receptacle

• The receptacle is a thicker portion of the stem, located beneath the petals and attached to the petals and sepals. The receptacle supports the flower's ovary and is hypogynous, epigynous or perigynous, depending on how the plant's reproductive organs are placed in relation to the receptacle. In a hypogynous receptacle, the ovary occupies the highest position; examples of this type of receptacle include strawberries or currants. Epigynous placement means that the ovaries are embedded inside the receptacle, as with orchids. In perigynous configurations, the ovary is equally inside and outside the receptacle, as seen in the crape myrtle or pomegranate.