Write a note on different parts of brassica flower.

PARTS OF BRASSICA FLOWER:

A flower is a reproductive part of the plant. With the maturation of age, the plant bears small yellowish flowers. Flowers grow on young branches in a special way. This branch is called pedicel and the arrangement is called inflorescence. The tip of the pedicel bears thalamus. The floral leaves are arranged in four whorls on the thalamus. They are as under:

(1) Calyx:

This is the outermost whorl and consists of four free sepals. The sepals are light greenish in young flowers. but as the flowers mature, their colour also becomes yellowish like that of the petals. In young flowers, sepals cover the inner parts of the flower. The basic function of calyx is to protect the inner parts of the flower.

(2) Corolla:

Corolla is the second whorl of floral leaves. It consists of four free yellow petals. Its yellow colour is conspicuous and can attracts insects, honey bees and butterflies which helps in pollination (transfer of pollen grains from another to stigma).

(3)  Androecium:

The androecium lies inside the petals. It makes the third whorl of the floral leaves. Its parts are not leaf like. The androecium consists of six free stamens, which are the male reproductive organs of the flower. In brassica flower, the stamens are arranged in two circles. The outer circle has two small stamens. The inner circle has four long stamens. Each stamen has two parts: a lower delicate stalk called the filament and an upper swollen part called the anther. Each anther contains numerous pollen grains. When the anther matures, a longitudinal slit appears in its walls from which pollen grains escape. At the base of the filament, four nectaries are present. When insects are attracted towards the flowers to collect this nectar, pollen grains get attached to their bodies and are transferred from one flower to another and pollination results.

(4) Gynoecium:

This is the inner most and the fourth whorl occupying a central position in the flower. Each part of the gynoecium is called carpel. Gynoecium makes the female reproductive organs of the plant. In Brassica, gynoecium is formed by the union of two carpels. Each carpel is divisible into three main parts. The lower swollen part is the ovary. Above the ovary, camel extends into a thin stalk, the style. The style has swollen tip which is called stigma. In the ovary, many ovules are present which become seeds. The ovary becomes a fruit. The fruit of brassica is a dry capsule.