Page 43 - Pharmacognosy-I (02-06-06-102)

1- Hermaphrodite: bisexual when both male and female organs
are present e.g. cloves.

2- Sterile: when both male and female organs are absent or not
functioning e.g. sunflower.

3- Unisexual: when only one of the sexual organ sis present and
functioning. Those flowers which possess only the male
organs are

Described as staminate while those possessing only the female
organ are described as pistillate.

Calyx

The calyx is the outermost whorl of the floral series. It
functions as protective for the essential organs of the flower,
especially in the bud where it completely envelops them. It is
formed of two to five sepals rarely more. The sepals are commonly
arranged in a single whorl.
Cohesion of Sepals:
The sepals may be:
1- Polysepalous: when sepals are free and each sepal is separately

attached to the receptacles.
2- Gamosepalous: when sepals are united through their margin.

The sepals are always green in colour rarely coloured. Sepals
may be large leafy and foliaceous i.e. leafy, membranous structure
or represented by bristly hairs forming the pappus as in arnica.

41