Laboratory Investigation #17
Flowers and Fruits
Description of the Lab
This lab will focus on types of inflorescences, the parts of a complete flower,
ovary positions, and differences in monocot and dicot flowers. It will also feature the
Outline of Investigation
1. Flowers
A. Model of a flower, illustration of a flower
2. Fruit
A. Apple, banana, orange, peach
B. Different fruits
C. Pomegranate
Laboratory Materials and Equipment for Student Use
Materials and Equipment
Per
Student
Per Pair of
Students
Per Lab
Group
Per
Room
Microscopes
1
15
Microscope slides
1 box
Cover slips
1 box
Glass rods
1
15
Flower
honeysuckle, etc.
Flowers to show various types of
6 of
inflorescences such as sunflower,
water pennywort, fireweed, elephant-
heads, false spike-nard, tansy
each
Preparation of laboratory Materials and Reagents
If you don’t’ have a green house where you can get a great number of a great variety of
flowers, call a local florist and see if you can get some flowers that are not usable to
them, but are still fresh enough to be used in the lab. You may be able to order flowers
on line as well. Make sure the delivery date corresponds to the day you meet this lab.
1 day prior to the lab
1. Set out the various types of flowers, fruit, and the model of the flower. Be sure
Questions for Lab #17 Flowers and Fruits
Use the knowledge you acquired in this lab exercise, along with information from your
textbook, to answer the following questions.
1. List in order the four parts of a flower and describe the functions of each separate part.
Sepals: protect the flower while in the bud
Apple, banana, orange, peach
acovado, corn, buckeye, milkweed,
corn, pineapple, osage orange, maple
fruits,
Pomegranate
2. What is the difference between a perfect and an imperfect flower?
3. What is the function of a pollen aperture?
To allow the pollen tube to emerge during pollination
4. A flower that is missing petals is probably pollinated by what means?
5. What is the ultimate function of a flower?
6. An ovary that has bee fertilized develops into what?
fruit
7. What type of fruit would you identify a grape as?
8. What are the characteristics of a drupe?
9. If both aggregate and multiple fruits have many ovaries what distinguishes them apart?
10. What distinguishes a capsule from a follicle?
Follicles split along one side or seam. Capsules have at least 2 carpels and
splitin a variety of ways
11. Define the term aril.
12. Explain why a peanut is not a nut.
13. What are the differences between a hesperidium and a pepo?