Flower Terminology

   
 
Ray flowers are those with a flat flower head similar to those of a dandelion. A bract is a modified or specialized leaf. They look different from the parts of the flower, such as the petals.
 
   
 
Some bracts are brightly colored and help in attracting pollinators. Bougainvillea's colourful bracts surround small and less colourful flowers.
 
   
 
This image shows the ray flowers open and the disk in the center. The disk is composed of a cluster of flowers. They are grouped together to form a single flower-like structure in the center of the flower. Each one is commonly called a floret.
 
   
 
This image shows a cluster of florets in the disc of a flower.
 
   
 
Petals are probably known by most people. The sepals here are open, when in the bud stage they enclose the flower. During this stage they are called a calyx.
 
   
 
This shows the calyx, the outermost whorl of sepals, and are typically green. All of the petals of a flower are called a corolla.
 
   
 
The term, two lipped, is used when the flower resembles two lips when open. Another image showing a series of bracts having opened.
 
   
 
Stamens are made up with a filament, the stalk, and an anther. The stamen is the male part of a flower. The style and stigma form a carpel, the female part, which includes an ovary.
 
   
 
In the Pea Family, the large outer petals form the banner. Below the banner are two lateral petals, referred to as wings. Beneath the wings, two petals are joined to form the keel. This encloses the reproductive structures of the plant.
 
   
 
The spadix in a flower is a spike inflorescence having small flowers on the stem. The spadix is usually surrounded by a leaf-like bract which is called a spathe.