Question

What are bracts? state their function.

Answer 1

Hint: Many perennials we grow in our gardens have “insignificant inflorescence” or small flowers that grow in a center surrounded by modified leaves and the primary task of this part is to protect the inflorescence. They may look like a leaf, part of a flower or part of a plant. It plays a vital role in attracting the insects for pollination.

Complete answer:
To answer this question you must know about what is bract.
Plants are present in diverse forms, and that diversity comes from evolution. Flowers are generally used to attract pollinators and they go to some pretty incredible lengths to do it, including growing bracts that look like their neighbors. The bract is nothing but a couple small, green, leaf-like things just below the flower. Basically When the flower arises in the axil of the leaf –like structure this structure is called a bract or we can say a bract is a piece of plant which exactly looks the same like a petal or a leaf.

Function of bract:
1. Protection :- the primary task of the bract is to protect the inflorescence.
2. Shelter :- a large, often graceful bract known as a flower cluster, provides shelter.
3. Attraction:-large or colorful surrounding flowers to attract insects so it helps to attract the insects for pollination.

Note:-
Bract is also associated with reproductive structure. It may be a flower, a cone, or an inflorescence. Inflorescence is a cluster of flowers. They may be smaller, larger, have different shapes or a different texture. A plant which has bracts is called bracteates or bracteolate, while plants without bracts can be referred to as ebracteate or bracteolate. The most important are the delicious leaves that surround an artichoke (sunflower family) flower.