The Beginning Stage of a Flower

A Series of Genetic Events

• As a plant grows, it does so from stem to leaf to flower. The switch from stem to flower is a genetic event triggered by conditions met for that particular plant. Some plants begin to flower dependent on temperature, and high heat will abort the development of flower buds. Others bloom with the change in day length.

The Parts of a Flower

• The first part of a flower to develop and become visible is the sepal, which curves around the flower bud and provides protection for the other developing parts. Later, the sepal will be an inconspicuous part of the flower found at the base, although in rare cases the sepal is showy and becomes part of the blossom. The petals are the showiest part of the flower, adapted to attract pollinators. Some flowers have undeveloped petals and are easy to overlook. The stamens, the male parts of the flower, produce pollen. The female part of the flower is the last to develop and is connected straight to the ovary where the seeds will grow. In microscopic cross-section, it is a hollow tube that will allow the pollen to travel down it to the ovary.

The Importance of Flower Buds

• Without a bud, there is no flower. Without a flower, there is no sexual reproduction of the plant. Although most plants are capable of asexual reproduction, adaptation is faster with sexual reproduction and hybridization, allowing a species to adapt and survive. Flower buds are sensitive to temperature change and other stresses, and will abort and fall from the plant, leading to a season without a crop. Tender flowers like apricots and oranges are vulnerable to early season plunges in temperature, and tomatoes and cucumbers will abort their blossoms if the temperature soars too high.

Useful Flower Buds

• Some flower buds are eaten, and others have high concentrations of useful compounds. Broccoli, cauliflower and artichokes are all edible buds. Cloves, a common spice, are made from the dried flower buds of the clove tree. Ginseng and cardoon, both used for medicinal purposes, have been shown to produce the highest levels of effective compounds only in the beginning stages of their flowers. Studies done on rose petals through their development show that the levels of proteins change with the development of the flower, with the highest levels being at the beginning stage of the flower.