Fruit Types

A fruit, in botanical terms, is an organ of the plant that contains the seeds. Seeds are fertilized, mature ovules. The ovules are fertilized in a process that starts with pollination (discussed in more detail later in this module). Fruits, on the other hand, are ripened ovaries or pistils that contain the seeds. In angiosperms, the […]

Flower Types

Within the angiosperms, adaptations and exceptions to the rule are almost the norm when one examines the reproductive parts of plants. Some plants may have all the flower parts previously listed: stamen; pistil; sepals; and petals. In which case, those flowers are considered complete. Plants that have all the critical reproductive parts (pistil and stamen), […]

Flower Parts

When a person thinks of plants, it is likely that a flower comes to mind. Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms, comprise about 80% of all plant life on earth. Angiosperms have been successful in the plant kingdom in large part due to their ability to quickly adapt to environmental pressures and further their niches […]

An Introduction to Plants

The Webster’s Dictionary definition of a plant is deceptively simple for organisms that play such a fundamental role in ecosystems and have such complex interactions with each other, their environment, and other organisms: Plant n. 1, a living organism, lacking voluntary motion, usually rooted in and growing from the soil. Plants compete with each other […]