Flowers

Flower is a modified shoot with condensed axis called thalamus and appendages called floral organs. Stamens (microsporophylls) and carpels (megasporophylls) represent the essential parts of a flower.Thus flower is a shoot bearing sporophyll. Flowering plants have successfully colonised land by reducing the water dependent gametophytic generation to the point where it is entirely protected within the sporophytic generation.

Typically flower is a condensed branch in which internodes have become condensed, bringing the nodes close to one another, and the leaves are modified to form floral whorls that directly or indirectly participate in the process of reproduction. Flowers differ considerably in size, shape, colour and arrangement of their parts, yet most of them bear a common structural plan.

Flowers are symbolic of beauty, love and tranquillity. They form the soul of a garden and convey the message of nature to man. Flowers and objects of aesthetic, ornamental, social, religious and cultural value.

They are used for conveying love, happiness, grief, mourning etc. In India, flowers are sanctified are commonly used in worship in homes and temples. Flowers are used on all festive occasions and in marriages and religious ceremonies.In all social functions, use of flowers and garlands has become symbolic. Annual, commonly, cultivated flowers are Carnation, Aster, Clendula, Petunia, Pansy, Nasturtium, Phlox, Zinnia, Marigold etc. Some other flowers usually grown in gardens are Antirrhinum, Portulaca, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Cosmos, Larkspur, Poppy, Stock, Sweet pea, Sweet William, Verbena. Common bulbous flowers are Narcissus, Iris, Spider lily, Nerine, Tulips etc.

Floriculture is the branch of ornamental horticulture concerned with growing and marketing of flowers and ornamental plants, as well as with flower arrangement.