Many plants have eight or more petals, but there are some that do not. This article will discuss the symmetry of flowers, Plants with larger numbers of petals, vertically symmetric two-lipped flowers, and clefts in the petals. Listed below are 8 flower types. Whether they have eight or more petals is irrelevant; they all have beautiful flowers. Read on to learn about these unique plants. If you have more questions, check out our other articles.
Flower symmetry
The evolution of floral symmetry in flowers has fascinated botanists for more than a century. In this article, we review the history of flower symmetry, the evolution of floral symmetry and the evolutionary history of cleistogamy and flower symmetry with 8 petals. We also discuss new insights into the evolution of floral symmetry in other plant families. If you’re interested in floral symmetry, you should start here.
Floral symmetry refers to the division of the perianth into two identical or mirror-image parts. It is also possible for a flower to have petal symmetry without an axis. In the case of a flower with spirally arranged parts, the petals can differ slightly in size and shape from their neighbors. However, symmetry in flowers is not absolute. There may be a radial axis, a flower that is asymmetrical, and even flowers with 8 petals don’t have an axis of symmetry.
Some flowers have only one line and are classified as irregular or zygomorphic. Some flowers have bilateral or sagittal symmetry. For instance, A. majus has a keel form, and is common among Fabaceae. It is also found in some Polygalaceae. Less elaborate forms of bilateral flower symmetry are caused by organ differentiation or displacement of initiation. Organ size may also be a factor, though its origin is uncertain.
Plants with higher number of petals
Some flowers have more petals than others. Some flowers, such as tulips and roses, have five petals, while others have just one. Petal numbers vary from species to species, but there is little disagreement about their function. Some petals protect certain parts of the flower, while others attract specific pollinators. Read on to learn about the most common plants with more petals. Here are some examples. We hope this short article has been helpful.
The petal’s function in flower-making is to help the flower open. Petals are modified leaves. They can be unusually shaped and brightly colored. A flower’s entire perianth is made up of petals, sepals, and a non-reproductive portion called a perianth. Some plants have fewer petals, such as Aloe and Tulipa. Others, such as Rosa, Canadian Goldenrod, and Groundsel, have fewer petals, but they still produce flowers that look like they have double the number.
The extra petals of a flower can be used to estimate the age of the population. Counting flowers with extra petals can reliably estimate the age of a British grassland. However, there is a downside. The extra petals may be the result of slow somatic mutations. Regardless, extra petals do not increase the likelihood of fertilization, which is a key benefit for breeding efforts. The research in the United Kingdom demonstrates the potential for the ability to detect genetic variation in plants.
Plants with clefts on petals
In flowering plants, the petals of flowers are divided into five parts: the sepals, the apical segments, the lobes and the clefts. These petals are approximately 3/4 to one inch in diameter and have four long hairs on them. The flowers are borne at the apex of an ascending stem as long as its leaf blade. The petals and sepals are covered in lavender and hairy on the lower side.
Cleft violets differ from typical violets by having more lobes. A typical Cleft Violet has fewer lobes. Its flowers are tubular and bloom from March to May. Both male and female flowers are on separate plants. They have deeply cleft petal lobes. These flowers look beautiful in any landscape, and they are a delight for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.
Plants with vertically-symmetric two-lipped flowers
There are several plant families that feature plants with two-lipped flowers that are symmetric about their center line. This includes the Bellflower, Crane’s-bill, Pink & Carnation, and the Bindweed Family. Members of these families all have flowers with five petals, some are symmetrical about their centre line while others are not. The two-lipped flowers of the Verbena family, Bogbean, and Soapwort are also symmetric about the centre line.
The most common type of flower with two symmetrical lips is the bellflower. This species has bilateral symmetry and two lips, the upper lip has two lobes, and the lower lip has three. Five stamens unite around the style of the flower, which extends upward from the mouth of the flower. Although this flower is symmetrical, the lobes are actually separated by a lateral line.
Other floral symmetry in plants is called zygomorphic. This includes most of the figwort, pea, and orchid families. The leaves of all of these species display at least approximate bilateral symmetry. This symmetry evolves through natural selection, with changes in the frequency of genes related to symmetry. Therefore, this pattern may be advantageous to an organism. It’s also important to note that flowers can undergo more than one symmetry change during their development.
Plants with radial symmetry
Plants with radial symmetry and eight petals have different floral structures. These flowers are called actinomorphic. They have similar-sized petals with different-sized sepals. For example, the flower in Figure 5 has five larger sepals below five narrower ones. Its petals are offset. Flower symmetry is also determined by its flower type. The flower may be bilaterally or unilaterally symmetric.
The evolution of floral symmetry in plants is an exciting field. Floral symmetry is regulated by specific transcription factors (TFs). The number of plant TFs has increased from 36 in Chlorophyta to 58 in Eudicots. Plants varying in floral symmetry are related to a complex genetic program that varies from one species to another. Despite the diversity of floral symmetry, patterns of change are still largely a mystery.
In Snapdragons, scientists found four genes that contribute to symmetry. One of these genes, CYC, controls cell division and elongation on the dorsal side. Another gene, DIV, regulates cell elongation on the ventral side. The four genes work together in an unidirectional fashion to affect the dorsal and ventral sides. These genes determine the amount of elongation and rotation in the petals of flower florets.
Another type of symmetrical flowers is the daisy. The daisy is a good example of actinomorphic symmetry. The flower has three identical sectors that rotate around the centre of the flower. These sectors may contain a tepal, a petal, or a sepal in each sector. Sometimes, these petals are not identical to each other and are arranged spirally.
Fibonacci sequence of florets
The Fibonacci sequence of flowers with eight petals is based on a number formula. Its beginning number is one, and each subsequent number increases by one. Whether the flower has eight petals or sixteen, the numbers in the sequence follow a golden mean pattern. The golden mean is found in nature in plants, as well as in the spiral forms of shells and giant sunflower seeds. Here are examples of flowers that have the Fibonacci number sequence:
A flower’s petals follow a spiral pattern. This spiral pattern is known as the golden spiral, and it has an essential function: allowing the petals to remain as compact as possible. This principle is demonstrated by the relative size of a rose bud compared to its fully opened bloom. It is also reflected in its shape. A rose with eight petals is much smaller than its flower bud! But the Fibonacci sequence is not limited to nature.
Plants display the Fibonacci number and Golden Ratio in nature. The simplest way to show symmetry is with structural symmetry. Typical examples of pentagonal symmetry are water nets and green algae. Flowers with Fibonacci-number petal symmetry include lilies, roses, and sunflowers. They show us that nature and maths are often related.
