Classical angiosperm phylogeny is based mainly on flower anatomy, and in particular, the arrangement
and form of the principle parts. The fruiting body is used as well, but its structure is often apparent in the
flowers. More recently, genetic studies have been employed to determine the relationship of various
botanical groups to each other. Many parts of the old classification system have proven more or less
consistent with these studies, but there have also been a large number of changes, even to large and
well studied groups. The changes to the classical system have been far more extensive than in the animal
kingdom, where the classical, anatomy-based phylogeny has held up remarkably well. As a result,
botanical nomenclature has been undergoing a bit of a revolution in the last two decades, and the
process (as of 2009) is still ongoing. A community known as the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group or APG has
provided some centrality to this process, but there are many areas where no consensus has been
reached. Botany has always been prone to what might be termed "vanity species" with some genera
(e.g. hieracium, the hawkweeds) having thousands of specific scientific names. The recent trend has
been to recognize certain species as highly variable; but history dies hard, especially for those who
discovered and described the "species".
A flower is the reproductive unit of an angiosperm plant. There is an enormous variety of flowers, but all
have some characteristics in common. The definitive characteristic of the angiosperms is the enclosed
ovary, which contains and protects the developing seeds. Floral reproduction is bisexual, and flowers
have "male" and "female" parts. The "male" or pollen-bearing part is called the stamen, and is
composed of the filament and the anther. The "female" or seed-bearing part is called the pistil, and is
composed of the ovary, the stigma, and the style. A flower may have exclusively male parts, exclusively
female parts, or commonly, both. When there are separate flower types, both may occur on the same
plant; occasionally a plant may bear only male or female flowers.
Surrounding the reproductive parts is the perianth, a double envelope consisting of an outer portion,
the calyx, which forms the sepals, and an inner portion, the corolla, which forms the familiar petals.
There may also be leafy elements, termed bracts, surrounding a flower. Individual flowers are often
organized into a larger group or cluster, termed an inflorescence. The stalk supporting a single flower is
called a pedicel, that supporting an inflorescence, or an isolated flower, a peduncle.
Anther:
The pollen-bearing body of the stamen, usually relatively compact, and supported at the end of the
narrow filament. Under a lens, anthers exhibit a wide variety of forms and means of attachment. These
characteristics are often important in technical keys for flower identification.
Bract:
A leaf-like element below a flower or on an inflorescence. Bracts are typically shaped differently than
other leaves on the plant. They are usually green, but occasionally are brightly colored and petal-like.
Calyx:
The outer perianth of a flower. The calyx surrounds the corolla, and is typically divided into lobes
called sepals. These are frequently green, and reduced relative to the petals, but they can also be large,
and brightly colored, resembling petals. In many flowers, the sepals enclose and protect the flower bud
prior to opening.
Corolla:
The inner perianth of a flower. The corolla typically surrounds the reproductive parts of the flower. It
may be continuous as in a petunia, lobed, or divided into distinct petals. In some cases, especially in
cultivated varieties, the corolla may be doubled or even further multiplied, producing multiple layers of
petals. In other cases, it may be lacking entirely.
Filament:
The usually narrow and often threadlike part of the stamen which supports the pollen-bearing anther.
Involucre:
A circle or cup of bracts that surrounds and supports the multiple florets of the head in the composite
flowers of the family asteraceae. The shape and arrangement of the involucral bracts is important in
describing the members of this family.