The Parts of an Iris Flower
Although iris flowers have all the same basic components as other flowers, they have some special features as well. Irises are extremely well-equipped to both attract pollinating insects and help the insects to transfer the pollen into their ovaries. Flower parts in the iris are not simply designed to make the blossoms beautiful, but are made with insects in mind.
Perianth
The perianth contains both the petals (corolla) and the sepals (calyx) of the iris flower. The sepals are the outer petal-like structures that protect the iris flower before it blooms and opens. Instead of true sepals like other flowers, irises have “falls.”
Falls
Part of the perianth, the petal-like falls attract pollinating insects to the center of the flower with a bright-colored middle line in each of the falls. The falls also flatten out and bend downward to act as a landing site for the insects. In most irises, the falls are lighter in color than the rest of the petal, usually a shocking white or yellow.
- Although iris flowers have all the same basic components as other flowers, they have some special features as well.
- The sepals are the outer petal-like structures that protect the iris flower before it blooms and opens.
Standards
Each iris flower has three standards, or erect inner petals. Like the falls, the standards also attract pollinating insects to the flower’s nectar. Unlike the outer petals with the falls, however, the standards are usually solid in color, without the central strip of lighter coloring.
Style Arms
The style arms of the iris flower are part of the pistil, or female reproductive organ. Irises’ style arms are located in the center of the blossom and resemble petals, unlike other flowers that have a distinct style connecting the ovary to the stigmas.
Stigmatic Lip
The stigmatic lip acts as the stigma in the iris flower. The stigmatic lip helps to rub the pollen from the insect’s body into the pollen tube that carries the male reproductive pollen grains down to the ovary. The stigmatic lip is located at the top of the style arm.
- Each iris flower has three standards, or erect inner petals.
- Irises’ style arms are located in the center of the blossom and resemble petals, unlike other flowers that have a distinct style connecting the ovary to the stigmas.
Stamen
Beneath the arched style arm is the stamen, which contains the male reproductive pollen grains. In the iris flower, the stamen grows in the center of the bloom, right beside the style arm. Because the stamen grows so close to the style arm, pollen grains easily transfer to the female reproductive organs.
Beard
Many species of iris flowers have beards. The beard is a fuzzy structure that grows on the top surface of the falls. The beard serves as a perching apparatus that offers pollinating insects a grip to hold onto when they’re entering the iris flower to look for nectar.
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