Ornamental Horticulture Unit:Seeds to Flowers

Floral DesignMiss. Perry

Seeds – General Information

• Mature, fertilized eggs contained inside fruit

•Range in size from a few millimeters to a few inches

•Can be flat, round or cylinder-shaped

•Distributed by wind, water or animals

Basic Parts of a Seed:

• Seed embryo – complete miniature plant in a resting stage– Divided into the epicotyl and hypocotyl

• Endosperm – stored food that contains sugars, proteins, and fats; used during the first stages of development

• Seed coat – tissue that surrounds the embryo and the stored food; protects seed from H2O loss and injury

Internal Parts of a Monocot

1.Seed coat

2.Cotyledons

3.Endosperm

4.Hypocotyl

5.Epicotyl

1

2

3

4

5

Internal Parts of a Dicot

1.Seed coat

2.Cotyledons

3.Endosperm

4.Hypocotyl

5.Epicotyl

Germination•The process of a seed developing into a plant

• Requirements:

Adequate moisture

Oxygen

Proper temperature

Light

Steps in Germination

Process Seed absorbs water

Water cracks the seed coat, activating growth

Root shoot (hypocotyl) begins to grow downward

Stem shoot (epicotyl) begins to grow upward

Normal growth continues . . . Green leaves begin to develop

B U L B S

What is a bulb?

• An underground stem that contains an embryonic plant inside • Will begin to grow when the conditions are

right

• Scales: Modified leaves that overlap each other; gives the bulb a swollen, pear-shaped look; protects the embryo inside

• The base of the bulb is called the basal plate. It holds the bulb together and produces roots. • Bulbs can live for many years.

• They will produce new, smaller bulbs from the basal plate.

Buying & Planting Bulbs

• Look for plump, firm bulbs. A soft, mushy feel is an indication of rot.

• Dormant bulbs will not have leaves or roots.

Dormant period: the time period when plants are not actively growing (growth is slowed down – usually during winter)

• Bulbs should be bought and planted during the dormant period

Where do you buy bulbs?

Retail nurseries

Mail order catalogs

On-line resources

Planting Bulbs

• Soil – bulbs need good drainage (otherwise roots will drown and the bulb itself will rot)

• Always determine proper planting depth. Different types of bulbs require different depths.

• Water – Most bulbs need water from the moment they begin growing until after they flower

Common Bulbs

Tulips

Gladiolus

Crocus

Common Bulbs

Iris

Hyacinthus

Daffodils

All About . . . Flowers!

Functions of Flowers

• Aid in sexual reproductionContain reproductive partsAttract insects for

pollination (bright colors, fragrant scents)

Complete Flowers

Made up of 5 parts:

1) Receptacle – the enlarged stem tip, to which other flower parts are attached

2) Sepals – form an outer circle of leaf-like structures; collectively called the calyx

Protect the flower bud

3) Petals – colorful parts of the flower; collectively called the corolla

4) Stamens – male parts of the flower

Located inside the petals

Some secrete sugary nectar Some secrete fragrant compounds

Made of the filament and anther

5) Pistils – the female parts of the flower; located in the center of the pollen

Made of 3 parts:

Stigma – sticky surface that captures pollen Style – support structure that leads from stigma to ovary

Ovary – enlarged part where seeds are formed

Receptacle

Stamen

Pistil

PetalSepal

Incomplete Flowers• Missing one or more of the 5 basic flower

parts

Perfect Flowers (Bisexual)• Have both male and female flower organs

Imperfect Flowers (Unisexual)

• Flowers that have either male OR female organs – not both

Monecious Plants

• Plants that bear both male and female flowers (capable of self-pollinization)

Dioecious Plants• Plants that carry only male OR female

flowers (not capable of self-pollinization)