What is Flower?
[[File:Flower poster 2.jpg|thumb|250px|A poster of flowers produced by twelve species of flowering plants from different [[Family (biology)|families]]]] A '''flower''' is the [[reproduction|reproductive]] part of [[flowering plant]]s. Flowers are also called the bloom or blossom of a plant. Flowers have [[petal]]s. Inside the part of the flower that has petals are the parts which produce [[pollen]] and [[seed]]s. In all plants, a flower is usually its most [[colour]]ful part. We say the plant 'flowers', 'is flowering' or 'is in flower' when this colourful part begins to grow bigger and open out. There are many different kinds of flowers in different areas in the [[world]]. Even in the coldest places, for example the [[Arctic]], flowers can grow during a few months. Flowers may grow separately on the plant, or they may grow together in an [[inflorescence]].<ref>Beentje H. & Williamson J. 2010. ''The Kew Plant Glossary: an illustrated dictionary of plant terms''. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Kew Publishing.</ref> == Structure of flowers == [[File:Mature flower diagram.svg|thumb|center|500px|Diagram of flower, cut open to show the parts]] [[File:Aconitum napellus3 ies.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Aconitum]] flower dissected to show its internal structure]] To investigate the [[structure]] of a flower, it must be [[dissection|dissected]], and its structure summarised by a floral [[diagram]] or a floral [[formula]]. Then its [[Family (biology)|family]] can be identified with the aid of a [[flora]], which is a book designed to help you identify plants. === Four basic parts === Flowers have four basic parts, from the outside in they are: #The [[perianth]], the vegetative parts ##The [[calyx]]: the outermost whorl consisting of units called [[sepal]]s. These are often green and enclose the rest of the flower in the [[bud]]. They may be absent, or they may be petal-like in some species ##The [[corolla]]: the [[petal]]s, usually thin, soft and often colored to attract animals that help [[pollination]] #The reproductive parts ##