Question

Distinguish between petals and petaloids.

Answer 1

Hint: A typical flower has four main whorls: calyx, corolla, androecium, and gynoecium. Androecium and gynoecium are known as the reproductive whorls. Petals and petaloids are considered as the non reproductive whorls in a flower. Petaloid means ‘looking like petals’ or petal like.

Complete answer:
Petals are modified leaves that cover the reproductive sections of flowers and are often brightly colored or oddly shaped to attract pollinators. The main function of the petals or corolla is to attract pollinators like bees, which will help in cross pollination. Petals come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Petals also help in the protection of inner reproductive whorls.
Petaloid is the term used to denote modified sepal resembling the petal of a flower. Sepals are usually green in color .Sepals are usually considered to be a leaf but they are modified leaves. The main function of sepals is also protection of the reproductive organs. In certain cases sepals become colored and get mistaken as petals. Sometimes the stamens also get colorful and feathery and get mistaken for petals. Stamens are the male reproductive organ in a flower.

Note:
Petals are the true corolla of a flower, whereas petaloids are modified sepals that resemble petals. In most of the cases the petaloids function as attracting agents of pollinators. Pollinators include birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, small mammals, and, most importantly, bees. Pollinators aid in pollination, which is the movement of pollen grains from a flower's anther to its stigma or the stigma of another flower.