Stamen
The male pollen-producing structure.
filament+anther=stamen
Botanical descriptions become much easier once you can picture the structures they describe. These simplified diagrams introduce some of the features you will meet most often when identifying wildflowers.
Parts of a flower
A typical flower is built from repeating sets of structures. Real flowers vary enormously, but this general plan gives you a useful starting point.
- PetalOften the colourful part of the flower that helps attract pollinators.
- SepalOne of the outer flower parts, often green, that protects the developing bud.
- AntherThe pollen-producing part at the tip of a stamen.
- FilamentThe slender stalk that supports the anther. Together, filament and anther form a stamen.
- StigmaThe pollen-receiving surface of the female reproductive structure.
- StyleThe structure connecting the stigma to the ovary.
- OvaryThe part that contains the ovules and later contributes to the fruit after fertilisation.
- OvuleA structure inside the ovary that can develop into a seed after fertilisation.
- ReceptacleThe part of the flower stalk to which the flower parts are attached.
- Flower stalkThe stalk supporting the flower; an individual flower stalk may be called a pedicel.
How the reproductive terms fit together
Carpel
A female, ovule-bearing unit of a flower. In the common textbook form it includes an ovary, style and stigma.
ovary+style+stigma
Pistil
The complete female structure visible in a flower. A pistil may consist of one carpel or of two or more carpels fused together.
This is why carpel and pistil are sometimes used as though they mean the same thing, but they are not always identical.
Perianth
The non-reproductive flower parts surrounding the stamens and carpels.
When sepals and petals are not clearly differentiated, the individual parts are often called tepals.
Superior and inferior ovaries
The position of the ovary relative to the other flower parts is an important family-level clue.
Superior ovary
The petals, sepals and stamens are attached below the ovary. The ovary therefore appears to sit above the point where the other flower parts join.
Inferior ovary
The petals, sepals and stamens appear to arise above the ovary because the ovary is embedded below their point of attachment.
Leaf arrangement on the stem
Before worrying about exact leaf shape, look at where the leaves arise. Arrangement is often easy to see and can quickly narrow an identification.
Alternate
One leaf at each node, alternating from side to side.
Opposite
Two leaves arise from the same node on opposite sides of the stem.
Whorled
Three or more leaves arise from the same node around the stem.
Basal rosette
Leaves are crowded near ground level rather than being spaced along the stem.
A few common flower arrangements
An inflorescence is the way flowers are arranged on a plant. These four forms are worth recognising immediately.