Re-Vision

Morphology
of
Flowering
Plants
Lecture No- 01
 Introduction of Unit 2
(Structural Organization in Plants & Animals)
• Description of diverse forms of life: Only by observation
✓ Initially through naked eyes
✓ Later through magnifying lenses and microscopes
• Description: Mainly of gross structural features
✓ External
✓ Internal
• In addition
✓ Observable living phenomena
✓ Perceivable living phenomena
• Naturalist: Described only Biology (Before Experimental Biology / Physiology
was established as a part of Biology)

• Biology : Remained as Natural history for a long time

• Description of diverse forms of life
✓ Utilized in Reductionist Biology
✓ Framing research questions in Physiology or Evolutionary Biology
• Reductionist Biology
✓ Living processes(Life Processes) drew more attention
✓ Internal
Concept check

Character Morphology Anatomy Histology

Synonym • External • Internal morphology • Microscopic
morphology (Organism) morphology
(Organism) • External morphology (Tissue)
(Organ system/Organ)
Requirement • Eyes • One cut • Dissection
• Eyes • Temporary
• General viscera mound
• Microscope
• Eyes
Study • External • External appearance of • External
appearance of an an internal organ appearance of
organism a tissue
Assertion: Plant anatomy is equivalent to plant histology
Reason: Internal organs are absent in plants
 Introduction of Chapter 5
(Morphology in Flowering Plants)
• Higher plants : Characterized by presence of
✓ Roots , stems, leaves , flowers and fruits
• Successful attempt at classification and at understanding any higher plant or
any living organism

• Standard technical terms

• Standard definitions
• Possible variations in different parts
✓ Adaptions to various habitats
✓ Adaptations for protection
✓ Adaptations for climbing
✓ Adaptations for storage
Fig.: Parts of a flowering plant
5.1 The Root
Differentiation between Root and Stem
Character Root Stem
Phototropism • Negative • Positive
Hydrotropism(Stronger than geotropism) • Positive • Negative

Geotropism • Positive(Exception: • Negative

Pneumatophore)
Origin • Radicle • Plumule
• Base of stem
• Other than Radicle
Node • Absent • Present
Internode • Absent • Present
Flower , Inflorescence , Seed , Fruit • Absent • Present

Location • Underground • Above ground

( Subterranean ) (Epiterranean)
Types of Root Systems
Character TRS FRS ARS
Origin Radicle Base of stem Other than Radicle
Fate of Forms Primary Short lived Persist / Perish
Radicle root
Branching Present Absent Absent
Example • Dicotyledons • Monocotyledons • Dicots
• Mustard • Wheat ( Banyan )
• Monocots
( Grass , Monstera )
Concept of Shock mechanism and Formation of ARS
Fig. : Different types of roots : (a) Tap (b) Fibrous (c) Adventitious
Main functions of the root system

• Absorption of water and minerals from the soil

(Water and Mineral absorption)

• Providing a proper anchorage to the plant parts (Hydroponics)

• Storing reserve food material (Root modifications)

• Synthesis of plant growth regulators (PGR)

5.1.1 Regions of Root
• Root cap
✓ Apex
✓ Thimble-like
✓ Protects the tender apex of the root
• Root pocket
✓ Aquatic
✓ Balancing
✓ Do not regenerate
• Meristematic Region
✓ A few millimeters above the root cap
• Cells
✓ Very small
✓ Thin-walled
✓ Dense protoplasm
✓ Divide repeatedly
• Elongation Region
✓ Proximal to Meristematic region
✓ Rapid elongation and enlargement
✓ Responsible for the growth of the root in length
✓ The cells of the elongation zone gradually differentiate and mature
• Maturation Region
✓ Proximal to region of elongation
✓ Some of the epidermal cells form very fine and delicate, thread-like structures
called root hairs
✓ Unicellular
✓ Extension of cell wall
✓ These root hairs absorb water and minerals from the soil
• Mature Region
Fig.: The regions of the root-tip
5.1.2 Modifications of Root
• Prop Roots
✓ Modified for support
✓ Banyan (Ficus bengalensis)
• Stilt Roots
✓ Maize , Sugarcane
Food storage
• TRS
✓ Carrot
✓ Turnip
• ARS
✓ Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas)
✓ Asparagus (Shatavari)
• Respiratory Roots (Pneumatophores)
✓ Rhizophora (swampy areas)
✓ Roots come out of the ground
✓ Grow vertically upwards (Negative Geotropism): Oxygen for respiration
5.2 The Stem
Features of stem

• Ascending part of the axis

✓ Bearing branches, leaves, flowers and fruits
• Develops from the plumule
• Nodes (Leaves are born) born are called nodes while internodes are the
• Buds: Terminal or axillary
• Generally green when young and later often become woody and dark brown
• Main function of the stem is spreading out branches bearing leaves, flowers and
fruits
• It conducts water, minerals and photosynthates
• Some stems perform the function of storage of food, support, protection and of
vegetative propagation (Stem Modification)
5.2.1 Modifications of Stem
• The stem may not always be typically like what they are expected to be
• They are modified to perform different functions
• Underground stems of potato, ginger, turmeric, zaminkand, Colocasia are modified
to store food in them
• They also act as organs of perennation to tide over conditions unfavourable for
growth
• Stem tendrils which develop from axillary buds, are slender and spirally coiled and
help plants to climb such as in gourds (cucumber, pumpkins, watermelon) and
grapevines
• Axillary buds of stems may also get modified into woody, straight and pointed
thorns
✓ Thorns are found in many plants such as Citrus, Bougainvillea
✓ They protect plants from browsing animals
• Some plants of arid regions modify their stems into flattened (Opuntia), or fleshy
cylindrical (Euphorbia) structures
✓ They contain chlorophyll and carry out photosynthesis
Buds

• Condensed shoot system

• Two types
✓ Terminal/Apical or Axillary (Node in the region of leaf base)
✓ Adventitious
➢ Cauline: On stem node outside the region of leaf base
➢ Foliar: On leaves (Bryophyllum , Bignonia)
Modifications of stem for
(a) storage (b) support (c) protection (d) spread & vegetative propagation
Stem Modifications

Store food: Underground stems , Thorns: Axillary buds of stems ;

Perennation woody, straight and pointed ; Protect
• Potato plants from browsing animals
• Ginger • Citrus
• Turmeric • Bougainvillea
• Zaminkand • Genus Bougainvillea is found in both
• Colocasia Plant kingdom and Animal kingdom

Stem tendrils: From axillary buds, Phylloclade: Arid regions , contain

Climbing chlorophyll , photosynthesis
• Gourds (cucumber, pumpkins, • Flattened (Opuntia)
watermelon) • Fleshy Cylindrical (Euphorbia)
• Grapevines
Vegetative Propagation
• Runner : Runners are above ground stolons
✔Underground stems of some plants such as grass and strawberry, etc., spread to
new niches and when older parts die new plants are formed

• Stolon : In plants like mint and jasmine a slender lateral branch arises from the
base of the main axis and after growing aerially for some time arch downwards to
touch the ground

• Offset : Stolon in hydrophytes

✔A lateral branch with short internodes and each node bearing a rosette of leaves and
a tuft of roots is found in aquatic plants like Pistia and Eichhornia

• Sucker : In banana, pineapple and Chrysanthemum, the lateral branches originate

from the basal and underground portion of the main stem, grow horizontally
beneath the soil and then come out obliquely upward giving rise to leafy shoots
5.3 The Leaf
Features of leaf

• Leaves originate from shoot apical meristems

• Dissimilar lateral outgrowth of stem

• Generally flattened

• Develops at the node

• Bears a bud in its axil

✓ The axillary bud later develops into a branch

• Arranged in an acropetal order

• Most important vegetative organs for photosynthesis

Three main parts: leaf base, petiole and lamina
• The leaf is attached to the stem by the leaf base and may bear two lateral
small leaf like structures called Stipules
• In monocotyledons, the leaf base expands into a sheath covering the stem
partially or wholly
• In some leguminous plants the leaf base may become swollen, which is called
the pulvinus
• The petiole help hold the blade to light. Long thin flexible petioles allow
leaf blades to flutter in wind, thereby cooling the leaf and bringing fresh
air to leaf surface
• The lamina or the leaf blade is the green expanded part of the leaf with veins
and veinlets
• There is, usually, a middle prominent vein, which is known as the midrib
• Veins provide rigidity to the leaf blade and act as channels of transport for
water, minerals and food materials
• The shape, margin, apex, surface and extent of incision of lamina varies in
different leaves.
5.3.1 Venation
1. The arrangement of veins and the veinlets in the lamina of leaf is termed as venation
2. When the veinlets form a network, the venation is termed as reticulate
3. Generally dicotyledonous plants
4. When the veins run parallel to each other within a lamina, the venation is termed
as parallel
5. Characteristic of most monocotyledons
5.3.2 Types of Leaves
1. A leaf is said to be simple, when its lamina is entire or when incised, the incisions do not
touch the midrib
2. When the incisions of the lamina reach up to the midrib breaking it into a number of
leaflets, the leaf is called compound
3. A bud is present in the axil of petiole in both simple and compound leaves, but not in the
axil of leaflets of the compound leaf
Pinnately Compound Leaf
1. The compound leaves may be of two types
2. In a pinnately compound leaf a number of leaflets are
present on a common axis, the rachis, which represents
the midrib of the leaf as in neem
Palmately Compound Leaf
1. In palmately compound leaves, the leaflets are attached at
a common point, i.e., at the tip of petiole, as in silk cotton
5.3.3 Phyllotaxy
1. Phyllotaxy is the pattern of arrangement of leaves on the stem or branch
2. This is usually of three types – alternate, opposite and whorled
• In alternate type of phyllotaxy, a single leaf arises at each node
in alternate manner, as in china rose, mustard and sun
flower plants
• In opposite type, a pair of leaves arise at each node and lie
opposite to each other as in Calotropis and guava plants
• If more than two leaves arise at a node and form a whorl, it is
called whorled, as in Alstonia
5.3.4 Modifications of Leaves
1. Leaves are often modified to
perform functions other than
photosynthesis.
2. They are converted into tendrils
for climbing as in peas (Fig. a) or
into spines (Fig. b) for defence as
in cacti
3. The fleshy leaves of onion and
garlic store food (Fig. c)
4. In some plants such as Australian acacia, the leaves
are small and short-lived. The petioles in these
plants expand, become green and synthesise food
(Phyllode)
• Cladode

5. Leaves of certain insectivorous plants such as

pitcher plant, venus-fly trap are also modified
leaves.
5.4 The Inflorescence
1. A flower is a modified shoot wherein the shoot apical meristem changes to
floral meristem

2. Internodes do not elongate and the axis gets condensed

3. The apex produces different kinds of floral appendages laterally at successive
nodes instead of leaves ( Modification )

4. When a shoot tip transforms into a flower, it is always solitary

5. The arrangement of flowers on the floral axis is termed as inflorescence
6. Depending on whether the apex gets developed into a flower ( Reproductive
Growth ) or continues to grow ( Vegetative Growth ), two major types of
inflorescences are defined – racemose and cymose
7. In racemose type of inflorescences the main axis continues to grow, the
flowers are borne laterally in an acropetal succession.

Racemose inflorescence
8. In cymose type of inflorescence the main axis terminates in a flower, hence is
limited in growth ; The flowers are borne in a basipetal order

Cymose inflorescence
5.5 The Flower
1. Reproductive unit in the angiosperms (sexual reproduction )
2. Four different kinds of whorls arranged successively on the swollen end of
the stalk or pedicel, called thalamus or receptacle

3. These are calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium.

4. Calyx and corolla are accessory organs, while androecium and gynoecium are
reproductive organs

5. In some flowers like lily, the calyx and corolla are not distinct and are termed
as perianth

6. When a flower has both androecium and gynoecium, it is bisexual

7. A flower having either only stamens or only carpels is unisexual
Floral symmetry ( Arrangement of floral organs around floral axis )

• Mother axis : Peduncle / part of stem on which flower are borne

Actinomorphic (radial symmetry) : Two equal radial halves in any radial plane
passing through the centre e.g., mustard, datura, chilli

Zygomorphic (bilateral symmetry) : Two similar halves only in one particular

vertical plane e.g., pea, gulmohur, bean, Cassia

Asymmetric (irregular): Cannot be divided into two similar halves by any vertical
plane passing through the centre e.g., canna
Floral Isomery ( Same basic number of floral parts )

1. Isomerous
• Bimerous : Floral appendages are in multiple of 2
• Trimerous : Floral appendages are in multiple of 3
• Tetramerous : Floral appendages are in multiple of 4
• Pentamerous : Floral appendages are in multiple of 5
2. Heteromerous
• Flowers with bracts reduced leaf found at the base of the pedicel- are called
bracteate and those without bracts, ebracteate
Forms of Thalamus
• Based on the position of calyx, corolla and androecium in respect of the ovary on
thalamus
• Hypogynous : Gynoecium occupies the highest position while the other parts are
situated below it. The ovary in such flowers is said to be superior, e.g., mustard,
china rose and brinjal
• Perigynous : Gynoecium is situated in the centre and other parts of the flower
are located on the rim of the thalamus almost at the same. The ovary here is said
to be half inferior, e.g., plum, rose, peach
• Epigynous : The margin of thalamus grows upward enclosing the ovary
completely and getting fused with it, the other parts of flower arise above the
ovary. Hence, the ovary is said to be inferior as in flowers of guava and
cucumber, and the ray florets of sunflower
Position of floral parts on thalamus : (a) Hypogynous (b) and (c) Perigynous
(d) Epigynous
Character Hypogynous Perigynous Epigynous
Thalamus shape • Convex /Conical • Disc/Cup/Flask • Flask/Tubular
Thalamus • Absent • Present on sides • Present on sides
expansion of ovary of ovary
(Incomplete) (Complete)
Thalamus margin • Free from ovary • Free from ovary • Fused with ovary
wall wall wall
Gynoecium • Highest position • At center • Lowest position
• All parts visible • All/some part • Ovary not visible
visible
Sepals , Petals , • Below gynoecium • Same level of • Above gynoecium
Stamen gynoecium
Ovary • Superior • Half inferior • Inferior
Example • Mustard,China • Plum , Rose , • Guava ,
rose , Brinjal Peach Cucumber, Ray
florets of
sunflower
5.5.1 Parts of a Flower

Parts of a flower
5.5.1.1 Calyx
• Outermost whorl
• Unit is Sepal
• Generally, sepals are green, leaf like and protect the flower in the bud stage
• OTG : Petalous
• Gamosepalous (sepals united)
• Polysepalous (sepals free).
5.5.1.2 Corolla
• Unit is Petals
• Petals are usually brightly coloured to attract insects for pollination
• Gamopetalous (petals united)
• Polypetalous (petals free)
• Corolla may be tubular, bell shaped,funnel-shaped or wheel-shaped
Aestivation

1. Arrangement of sepals or petals in floral bud with respect to the other members
of the same whorl
2. Valvate : Sepals or petals in a whorl just touch one another at the margin,
without overlapping, as in Calotropis
3. Twisted : One margin of the appendage overlaps that of the next one and so on
as in china rose, lady’s finger and cotton
4. Imbricate : Margins of sepals or petals overlap one another but not in any
particular direction as in Cassia and gulmohur
5. Vexillary / Papilionaceous : In pea and bean flowers, there are five petals, the
largest (standard) overlaps the two lateral petals (wings) which in turn
overlap the two smallest anterior petals (keel)
Types of aestivation in corolla : (a) Valvate (b) Twisted (c) Imbricate (d) Vexillary
5.5.1.3 Androecium ( Composed of stamens )

1. Stamen : Male reproductive organ ; Consists of a stalk/filament and an anther

2. Anther : Usually bilobed , Each lobe has two chambers/the pollen-sacs. The pollen
grains are produced in pollen-sacs.
3. Sterile stamen : Staminode
4. Stamens of flower may be united with other members ( Adhesion ) such as petals
or among themselves ( Cohesion )
• The stamens in a flower may either remain free (polyandrous) or may be united
in varying degrees ( Adhesion and Cohesion )

Adhesion of Stamens

1. Epipetalous : Brinjal
2. Epiphyllous / Epitepalous : lily
3. Gynandrous : Calotropis
Cohesion of Stamens

1. Adelphous : Fused filaments ; Types based on number of bundles

• Monoadelphous : China rose
• Diadelphous : Pea
• Polyadelphous : Citrus

2. Syngenesious / Synantherous : Fused anthers

2. Synandrous : Fused filament and fused anther
Types of stamen

1. Isostemonous : Similar stamens

2. Heterostemonous : Stamens different in length , shape and dehiscence
• Didynamous : ( 2 long , 2 short ) , Salvia , Ocimum
• Tetradynamous : ( 2 outer short , 4 inner long ) , Mustard , Brassica
5.5.1.4 Gynoecium
1. Female reproductive part
2. Made up of one or more carpels
• Three parts : stigma, style and ovary
3. Ovary :Enlarged basal part , elongated tube (style)
• Each ovary : One/more ovules attached to flattened, cushion-like placenta
3. Style : Connects the ovary to the stigma
4. Stigma
• Usually at the tip of the style
• Receptive surface for pollen grains
5.5.1.4 Gynoecium
• Apocarpous : Free carpels e.g. lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera ) , rose
Cohesion of Carpels
• Syncarpous : Fused carpels e.g. mustard,tomato
• After fertilisation, the ovules develop into seeds and the ovary matures into
a fruit
Placentation (arrangement of ovules within the ovary)

• Marginal, Axile, Parietal, Basal, Central and Free Central

1. Marginal ( Pea )
• Placenta forms a ridge along the ventral suture of the ovary
• Ovules are borne on this ridge forming two rows
2. Axile (China rose, Tomato , Lemon )
• Placenta is axial
• Ovules are attached to placenta in a
multilocular ovary

3. Parietal (Mustard and Argemone )

• Ovules develop on the inner wall of the
ovary or on peripheral part
• Ovary is one-chambered but it becomes two
chambered due to the formation of the false
septum ( Replum )
4. Free central (Dianthus and Primrose )
• Ovules are borne on central axis and septa
are absent

•
5. Basal (Sunflower, Marigold )
• Placenta develops at the base of ovary
• Single ovule is attached to it
5.6 THE FRUIT
• The fruit is a characteristic feature of the flowering plants
• It is a mature or ripened ovary, developed after fertilisation
• If a fruit is formed without fertilisation of the ovary, it is called a
parthenocarpic fruit
• Generally, the fruit consists of a wall or pericarp and seeds
• The pericarp may be dry or fleshy
• When pericarp is thick and fleshy, it is differentiated into the outer epicarp,
the middle mesocarp and the inner endocarp
• In mango and coconut, the fruit is known as a drupe
• They develop from monocarpellary superior ovaries and are one seeded
• In mango the pericarp is well differentiated into an outer thin epicarp, a
middle fleshy edible mesocarp and an inner stony hard endocarp
• In coconut which is also a drupe, the mesocarp is fibrous
Parts of a fruit : (a) Mango (b) Coconut
5.7 THE SEED
• The ovules after fertilisation, develop into seeds
• A seed is made up of a seed coat and an embryo
• The embryo is made up of a radicle, an embryonal axis and one (as in wheat,
maize) or two cotyledons (as in gram and pea)
5.7.1 Structure of a Dicotyledonous Seed
• The outermost covering of a seed is the seed coat
• The seed coat has two layers, the outer testa and the inner tegmen
• The hilum is a scar on the seed coat through which the developing seeds were
attached to the fruit
• Above the hilum is a small pore called the micropyle
• Within the seed coat is the embryo, consisting of an embryonal axis and two
cotyledons
• The cotyledons are often fleshy and full of reserve food materials
• At the two ends of the embryonal axis are present
the radicle and the plumule

• In some seeds such as castor the endosperm formed Structure of

as a result of double fertilisation, is a food storing dicotyledonous seed
tissue and called endospermic seeds
• In plants such as bean, gram and pea, the endosperm
is not present in mature seeds and such seeds are
called non endospermous
5.7.2 Structure of Monocotyledonous Seed
• Generally, monocotyledonous seeds are endospermic but some as in orchids are
non-endospermic
• In the seeds of cereals such as maize the seed coat is membranous and generally
fused with the fruit wall
• The endosperm is bulky and stores food
• The outer covering of endosperm separates the embryo by a proteinous layer
called aleurone layer
• The embryo is small and situated in a groove at one end of the endosperm
• It consists of one large and shield shaped cotyledon known as scutellum and a
short axis with a plumule and a radicle
• The plumule and radicle are enclosed in sheaths which are called coleoptile and
coleorhiza respectively
Structure of a monocotyledonous seed
5.8 SEMI-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF A TYPICAL
FLOWERING PLANT
• Description: Brief, Simple and scientific language
Presented in a proper sequence
✓ Habit
✓ Vegetative characters – roots, stem and leaves
✓ Floral characters inflorescence and flower parts
• Floral diagram
• Floral formula
✓ Br stands for Bracteate
✓ K stands for Calyx
✓ C for Corolla
✓ P for Perianth
✓ A for Androecium
✓ G for Gynoecium
➢ G for superior ovary
➢ 𝐺ҧ for inferior ovary
• M for male
• F for female
• H for bisexual plants
• ⊕ for actinomorphic
• % for zygomorphic nature of flower
• Fusion(Cohesion) is indicated by enclosing the figure within bracket
• Adhesion by a line drawn above the symbols of the floral parts
1. A floral diagram provides information about the number of parts of a
flower, their arrangement and the relation they have with one another

2. The position of the mother axis with respect to the flower is represented
by a dot on the top of the floral diagram

3. Calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium are drawn in successive

whorls, calyx being the outermost and the gynoecium being in the centre

4. Floral formula also shows cohesion and adhesion within parts of whorls
and between whorls

5. The floral diagram and floral formula in Figure represents the mustard
plant (Family: Brassicaceae)
Floral diagram with floral formula (Family: Brassicaceae)
5.9 DESCRIPTION OF SOME IMPORTANT FAMILIES
5.9.1 Fabaceae
1. This family was earlier called Papilionoideae, a subfamily of family Leguminosae
2. It is distributed all over the world

Pisum sativum (pea) plant : (a) Flowering twig (b) Flower (c) Petals
(d) Reproductive parts (e) L.S.carpel (f) Floral diagram
Vegetative Characters

1. Trees, Shrubs, Herbs

2. Root with root nodules
3. Stem : Erect or Climber
4. Leaves : Alternate, Pinnately Compound or Simple;
• Leaf base : Pulvinate
• Stipulate
• Venation reticulate
Floral Characters
• Inflorescence: Racemose
• Flower: Bisexual, Zygomorphic
• Calyx: Sepals Five, Gamosepalous; Valvate/Imbricate Aestivation
• Corolla: Petals Five, Polypetalous, Papilionaceous, Posterior Standard, Wo Lateral
Wings, Two Anterior Ones Forming A Keel (Enclosing Stamens And Pistil),
Vexillary Aestivation
• Androecium: Ten, Diadelphous, Anther Dithecous
• Gynoecium: Ovary Superior, Mono Carpellary, Unilocular With Many Ovules, Style
Single
• Fruit: Legume; Seed: One To Many, Non-endospermic
• Floral Formula :
• Economic Importance
Many Plants Belonging To The Family Are Sources Of Pulses (Gram, Arhar,
Sem, Moong, Soyabean; Edible Oil (Soyabean, Groundnut); Dye (Indigofera);
Fibres (Sunhemp); Fodder (Sesbania, Trifolium), Ornamentals (Lupin, Sweet
Pea); Medicine (Muliathi)
5.9.2 Solanaceae
• Family, commonly called as the ‘potato family’
• Widely distributed in tropics, subtropics and even temperate zones

Solanum nigrum (makoi) plant : (a) Flowering twig (b) Flower

(c) L.S. of flower (d) Stamens (e) Carpel (f) Floral diagram
Vegetative Characters

1. Plants mostly herbs, shrubs and rarely small trees

2. Stem: herbaceous rarely woody, aerial; erect, cylindrical, branched, solid or
hollow, hairy or glabrous, underground stem in potato (Solanum tuberosum)
3. Leaves: alternate, simple, rarely pinnately compound, exstipulate; venation
reticulate
Floral Characters
• Inflorescence : Solitary, axillary or cymose as in Solanum
• Flower: bisexual, actinomorphic
• Calyx: sepals five, united, persistent, valvate aestivation
• Corolla: petals five, united; valvate aestivation
• Androecium: stamens five, epipetalous
• Gynoecium: bicarpellary obligately placed, syncarpous; ovary superior, bilocular,
placenta swollen with many ovules, axile
• Fruits: berry or capsule
• Seeds: many, endospermous
• Floral Formula :
• Economic Importance
Many plants belonging to this family are source of food (tomato, brinjal, potato),
spice (chilli); medicine (belladonna, ashwagandha); fumigatory (tobacco);
ornamentals (petunia)
5.9.3 Liliaceae
1. Commonly called the ‘Lily family’ is a characteristic representative of
monocotyledonous plants. It is distributed world wide

Allium cepa (onion) plant : (a) Plant (b) Inflorescence (c) Flower (d) Floral diagram
Vegetative Characters

1. Perennial herbs with underground bulbs/corms/rhizomes

2. Leaves mostly basal, alternate, linear, exstipulate with parallel venation
Floral Characters
• Inflorescence: solitary / cymose; often umbellate clusters
• Flower: bisexual; actinomorphic
• Perianth tepal six (3+3), often united into tube; valvate aestivation
• Androecium: stamen six, 3+3, epitepalous
• Gynoecium: tricarpellary, syncarpous, ovary superior, trilocular with many ovules;
axile placentation
• Fruit: capsule, rarely berry
• Seed: endospermous
• Floral Formula :
• Economic Importance :
Many plants belonging to this family are good ornamentals (tulip, Gloriosa),
source of medicine (Aloe), vegetables (Asparagus), and colchicine (Colchicum
autumnale)
 Re-Vision
Morphology
of
Flowering
Plants
Lecture No- 01