Question

Flowers in angiosperms are
A. A modified reproductive shoot
B. Possess different floral appendages at successive nodes
C. Have floral appendages which are modified leaves
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Flowers are the organ of reproduction in flowering plants. They have aesthetic, ornamental, and cultural value too.

Complete answer:
The production of flowers is a typical characteristic of the Angiosperms. The flower is a modified shoot which possesses different floral appendages at successive nodes. The flower appendages such as seals, petals, carpel, and stamen are the modification of leaves.
Angiosperms are the largest group of plant species present on earth. It is characterized by the presence of flowers, endosperm within the seeds, and the production of fruits that contain the seeds. All parts of the flower originate from leaves only.

Additional Information:
The appendages of a flower can be of two types:
Vegetative part: It includes Calyx and Corolla.
Reproductive part: It includes Androecium and Gynoecium.
- Calyx: It is the outermost whorl of a flower comprising the sepals, which covers and protects the petals as they develop.
- Corolla: Corolla commonly known as petals is a colorful part of the plant that has fragrance or provides nectar.
- Androecium: Androecium or Stamens represent the male reproductive part of the flower. A flower-bearing only stamen is called a staminate flower. It is divided into a Filament and an Anther.
- Gynoecium: Gynoecium or the Carpel represents the female part of a flower. Each carpel is made up of three parts i.e. ovary, style, and stigma. The ovary is a basal swollen part containing ovules, style is middle cylindrical part and stigma is terminal swollen part for receiving pollen grains. A flower-bearing only gynoecium is called a pistillate flower.

So, the correct answer is ‘All of the above'.

Note:
- Androecium and Gynoecium are considered as essential whorls as they participate in reproduction. Calyx and Corolla are called non-essential whorls.
- On the basis of the number of petals, flowers are generally divided into Trimerous (three petals), Tetramerous (four petals), and Pentamerous (five petals).
- After fertilization, the ovules develop into seeds, ovary into fruit and the sepals and petals degenerate.