Morphology of Flowering Plants

Biology · Class 11

Simulation · Biology · Class 11

Where do the other whorls join?

From the lesson Ovary position on the thalamus in Morphology of Flowering Plants. Change the values and watch what happens.

The idea behind it

NCERT §5.5, Figure 5.9

  • Flowers are classed by where the calyx, corolla and androecium sit on the thalamus compared with the ovary: hypogynous, perigynous or epigynous.
  • Hypogynous: the gynoecium is at the top and every other part is attached below it. The ovary is superior. Examples: mustard, china rose, brinjal.
  • Perigynous: the gynoecium is in the centre and the other parts sit on the rim of the thalamus at nearly the same level. The ovary is half inferior. Examples: plum, rose, peach.
  • Epigynous: the margin of the thalamus grows up around the ovary, encloses it fully and fuses with it, so the other parts arise above the ovary. The ovary is inferior. Examples: guava, cucumber and the ray florets of sunflower.
  • Superior, half inferior and inferior describe the ovary; hypogynous, perigynous and epigynous describe the flower. The terms come in matched pairs.
  • Quick check: if you see the sepals and petals attached on top of the ovary, as at the crown of a guava fruit, the ovary was inferior.
Take the whole lessonOvary position on the thalamus, with the notes, the story, a mind map, common mistakes and exam questions.Open

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