ICSE Class 9 – Biology (The Flower) – Definitions
1. Flower – The reproductive part of an angiosperm (flowering plant) which is a modified
shoot specialized for sexual reproduction.
2. Pedicel – The stalk of a single flower that attaches it to the plant.
3. Peduncle – The main stalk that bears the flower or a cluster of flowers.
4. Thalamus (Receptacle) – The swollen tip of the pedicel that bears floral whorls (sepals,
petals, stamens, carpels).
5. Calyx – The outermost whorl of the flower made up of sepals; usually green and
protective in function.
6. Sepals – Green, leaf-like structures forming the calyx, which protect the flower bud.
7. Corolla – The second whorl of a flower consisting of petals, usually brightly coloured to
attract pollinators.
8. Petals – Brightly coloured structures forming the corolla, that attract insects for pollination.
9. Androecium – The male reproductive whorl of a flower, consisting of stamens.
10. Stamen – The male reproductive organ of the flower, consisting of a filament and anther.
11. Anther – The part of the stamen where pollen grains are produced.
12. Filament – The stalk of the stamen that supports the anther.
13. Pollen grains – The microscopic structures containing male gametes (sperms).
14. Gynoecium / Carpel / Pistil – The female reproductive whorl of a flower consisting of
stigma, style, and ovary.
15. Stigma – The sticky part of the carpel that receives pollen during pollination.
16. Style – A slender stalk that connects the stigma with the ovary.
17. Ovary – The basal swollen part of the carpel that contains ovules.
18. Ovule – Structure within the ovary that develops into seed after fertilization.
19. Complete flower – A flower having all four whorls (calyx, corolla, androecium,
gynoecium).
20. Incomplete flower – A flower in which one or more whorls are absent.
21. Bisexual flower – A flower having both androecium and gynoecium.
22. Unisexual flower – A flower having either androecium (male flower) or gynoecium
(female flower), but not both.
23. Actinomorphic flower – A flower that can be divided into two equal halves in any vertical
plane (radial symmetry).
24. Zygomorphic flower – A flower that can be divided into two equal halves in only one
vertical plane (bilateral symmetry).
25. Bract – A special leaf-like structure at the base of a flower.
26. Hypogynous flower – A flower in which the ovary is superior, and the other floral parts
arise below it.
27. Perigynous flower – A flower in which the ovary is half-inferior, and floral parts arise from
the rim of the thalamus around it.
28. Epigynous flower – A flower in which the ovary is inferior, and the floral parts arise above
it.
29. Inflorescence – The arrangement of flowers on the floral axis.
30. Pollination – The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma.
31. Fertilization – The fusion of the male gamete (from pollen) with the female gamete (in
ovule) to form a zygote.
Floral Structures & Terms
32. Perianth – When sepals and petals are not distinct but similar in shape and colour, they
are collectively called perianth.
33. Tepals – Individual members of the perianth.
34. Regular flower – A flower in which all parts of each whorl are similar in shape and size.
35. Irregular flower – A flower in which the parts of a whorl differ in shape or size.
36. Monoecious plant – A plant in which both male and female flowers occur on the same
plant (e.g., maize, cucumber).
37. Dioecious plant – A plant in which male and female flowers occur on different plants
(e.g., papaya, mulberry).
Floral Attachments
38. Epipetalous stamens – Stamens attached to petals (e.g., brinjal).
39. Epiphyllous stamens – Stamens attached to perianth (e.g., lily).
40. Polyandrous – Stamens free from each other.
41. Monadelphous – Stamens united into one bundle by their filaments (e.g., China rose).
42. Diadelphous – Stamens united into two bundles (e.g., pea).
43. Polyadelphous – Stamens united into more than two bundles (e.g., citrus).
44. Syncarpous – Carpels fused together.
45. Apocarpous – Carpels free from each other.
46. Neutral flower – A flower without reproductive organs (neither stamens nor carpels).
47. Accessory whorls – The non-reproductive whorls of a flower (calyx and corolla).
48. Essential whorls – The reproductive whorls of a flower (androecium and gynoecium).
Pollination Types (extra definitions often asked)
49. Self-pollination (Autogamy) – Transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the
same flower.
50. Cross-pollination (Allogamy) – Transfer of pollen from the anther of one flower to the
stigma of another flower of the same species.
51. Entomophily – Pollination carried out by insects.
52. Anemophily – Pollination carried out by wind.
53. Hydrophily – Pollination carried out by water.
54. Ornithophily – Pollination carried out by birds.
55. Chiropterophily – Pollination carried out by bats.