Kinds of Flowers

Flowers have been used as characters by poets and artists for so long. There is hardly anything that can be compared with the serene beauty of flowers. People use them to pass messages of every emotion to the receivers. You can send them to express love, joy, happiness, sorrow or emptiness to others. Indeed, flowers of varied colors and types represent a language of their own. If you have time, analyze different kinds of flowers around you and see the characteristic features that define them.

Classification of Different Kinds of Flowers

The branch of biology that deals with plant studies is called botany. According to this discipline, flowers are specialized structures responsible for fertilization purposes. Every flowering plant, including common grass bears flowers, which may differ in color, shape, size and shelf-life amongst other features. Also, the mode of flower arrangement in the stalk is studied under types of inflorescence.

The whorls represent the four basic parts of a flower, which are arranged properly on the receptacle. Of these, the male reproductive structure (androecium) and female reproductive structure (gynoecium) are essential whorls, while the sepals (calyx) and petals (corolla) are accessory parts to mediate fertilization. The classification of different kinds of flowers is made under attributes, which is discussed below.

Based on Sexuality
According to the presence and absence of essential whorls, i.e., androecium and gynoecium, there are two kinds of flowers and they are:

Bisexual Flower: Also referred to as perfect flower, this kind of flower bears both androecium and gynoecium in the same bloom. Examples of bisexual flowers are hibiscus, rose, lily, etc. Bisexual flower having sepals and petals are called complete flowers.

Unisexual Flower: As the name signifies, unisexual or imperfect flower possesses only one functional reproductive structure, either androecium or gynoecium. Accordingly, it is known by the name, male flower or female flower. Examples of unisexual flower are cucumber, pumpkin and papaya.

Based on Morphology
The morphology of flower varies from one type to another, basically in terms of calyx and corolla. Flower classification with respect to sepals and petals are:

Polypetalous/Polysepalous Flower: In this type, the most colorful part of a flower, i.e. petals are free and separated from the remaining petals. Familiar examples of polypetalous flowers are camellia and rose. Likewise, a flower with free sepals are called polysepalous flower. For example, rose and magnolia are polysepalous flowers.

Gamopetalous/Gamosepalous Flower: Also known as sympetalous flower, the petals are fused together, either partly or completely. Examples include elderberry and blueberry. Similar to this, a bloom bearing partially or fully fused sepals are called gamosepalous flower. Examples of gamosepalous flowers are periwinkle and hibiscus.

Based on Symmetry
A flower can be divided in only one plane, or many planes to give two or more similar parts. This attribute is called floral symmetry and based on this, there are two kinds of blooms.

Actinomorphic Flower: Actinomorphic or regular flower bears similar petals and can be separated into many equal halves, which are mirror images of each other. Examples of radially symmetrical flower that can be divided by many longitudinal planes are hibiscus, buttercup, and clematis.

Zygomorphic Flower: In contrary to regular type, the zygomorphic kind of flower can be divided in only one plane, so as to give two equal halves. The shape and size of petals and sepals are different in this bloom type. Common examples of bilaterally symmetrical flower are orchids, digitalis, lavender and snapdragon.

Based on Position
Development of flowers in a stalk may vary from one plant to another. Depending on whether they are borne in the terminal position or not, flower are of two kinds, namely,

Axillary Flower: In case of axillary type, a single or groups of flowers are developed in the same manner as an axillary bud. In simple words, flowers are borne in the junction between the leaf petiole and the stem. The hibiscus and periwinkle plants produce axillary flowers.

Terminal Flower: In this type, a single or groups of blooms are borne in the terminal end of a branch. As you refer to flower pictures, you will find that the terminal bud matures into a flower (or flower bunch) and dies out. The plant that bears terminal flowers are nerium and magnolia.

Based on Inflorescence
Inflorescence is defined as the basic pattern for arrangement of blooms in the flowering stalk. There are two different types of flowers with respect to inflorescence, which are:

Racemose Flower: A characteristic feature of racemose inflorescence is that the flowers are developed in an indeterminate branch, which grows continuously. The youngest flowers are present in the tip while the base represents oldest flowers. Examples of flowers borne in racemose inflorescence are caesalpinia, mulberry and coriander.

Cymose Flower: Cymose inflorescence is exactly opposite to the racemose type, in which the axis or branch has a determinate growth. The oldest flowers are present in the tip portion, while successively younger flowers are developed below them. Examples of flowers borne in cymose inflorescence are jasmine, hibiscus and nerium.

Based on Blooming Season
If you have been planning to grow a flower garden, you have many varieties, in accordance to the blooming period. The following are three groups of flowers, which you can consider for your garden.

Annual Flower: Annual flowering plant bears flowers and produce seeds in the sowing season itself. Or in other words, it lasts for only one season and you will need to replant it again in the coming season. Examples of annual flowers are marigold, petunia, impatiens and zinnia.

Biennial Flower: With biennial flower, you can enjoy flower in the second year of plantation, as the plant develops vegetative parts in the first growing season. Thus, the name biennial is given to this bloom type. Sweet William, foxglove and dicentra are biennial flowers.

Perennial Flower: The kind of flower that requires least maintenance for the gardener is perennial type. It blooms recurrently, as the flowering period arrives. You do not have to uproot this flowering plant in every season. Perennial flower examples are rose, dahlia, common chicory and begonia.

As far as kinds of flowers for weddings and special occasions are concerned, you can select from a huge range of options. Choose them from the list of different types of flowers with pictures, which will complement the party theme. You can contact your nearby florist to place order and plan ahead before the grand day. Apply creative flower arrangement ideas and make breathtakingly beautiful bouquets for personalized decoration.