To continue increasing your knowledge of botany with ecology, we have prepared an article that explains What are the Tepaloswhat are their functions and how they differ from flower petals.
Did you know that tulips have no petals, but have sepals? And that the coloration of these is what makes them known as Tepalos and that it is precisely what makes the difference between some species? We invite you to continue reading to learn a little more about the world around you.
What are the Tepalos de las Flores
The petals and the sepals are two external parts of the flower found in the perianto and whose main function is to protect its reproductive organs. In general, sepals and petals differ in their coloration. They are called Tepalos when we cannot differentiate the petals from the sepals.
So what are the Tepalos? They are the sheets that protect and wrap sexual organs of the plant and that do not have a clear differentiation. That is, when we can clearly distinguish the corolla chalice. Tepalos are typical of monocotyledonous plants, such as magnolias, lilies, narcissos or tulips. In the same way, we can also say in a general way, that the Tepalos are typical of primitive plants those that did not need to evolve to attract pollinators.
Functions of the Tepalos
The main function of the tepals is that of Protect the plant reproductive organs. Tepalos wrap these organs around the flower perianto so that they do not suffer damage to external agents such as wind or water and thus ensure flower pollination.
As we have already mentioned, they provide the necessary support so that, when the time for the sexual maturity of the plant, pollinators can facilitate the reproduction of the plant.
Difference between petals and tepalos
The main difference between petals and tepals, is that Petals are typical of dicotyledonous plants or more evolved plants. It is believed that the clear distinction between the petals and the sepals of most flower plants lies in the need to attract insects To ensure pollination. For this reason, the petals usually have a differentiated color of the sepals. The sepals who wrap the floral chalice are generally green. Instead, flower petals are a clearly striking color to get the attention of insects and other animals. In fact, the petals are the most recognizable part in most species of flower plants.
The Tepalosregardless of coloration, They do not differentiate the tones between the petals and sepalstaking the name of Tepalos to be able to refer to the leaves located in the flower perianto.
The clearest way to understand the difference between petals and tepalos in having the image of Tulipán and that of a rose. The tulip presents a colorful flower that leaves the plant stem and there are no green leaves between its stem and the petals, while the rose is a flower held by a perfect crown of sepals that make each of its spectacular petals even more striking.
In addition, we can include a small detail to increase its differentiation. Tepalos have a much more robust and fleshy structure, instead the petals are much lighter to open easily.
Other parts of the flowers
Now that you clearly know the differences between petals and tepals, we want to review with you what are the parts of the flowers. Again, even if the Tepalos are typical of the monocotyledonous plants does not mean that they all have to comply with this particularity. Therefore, we can talk about the different structures that make up the flower in a general way, for this it helps you recognize those species that have Tepalos. The parts of a flower can be divided into two zones: that destined for reproduction and the other parts that make up the structure.
The reproductive function of the flowers is divided into:
- Androecium: formed by stamens or male sexual organs. Each of the stamens is formed by a filament at whose end the male gametes known as pollen are produced.
- Gynece: Female part of the flower constituted by the pistil that, in turn, form the carpels where the female reproductive organs of the plant are located. Each carpel has an ovary, which is the widened area in which the ovule is located, the style, which forms the union of the ovary with the stigma or the final part that has a sticky structure that works as a collection of the pollen grains.
As for the rest of the structure we find:
- Sepals: located under the petals of the flower and that are used as support and support.
- Corolla: formed by the petals that have a striking coloration to get the attention of the pollinators.
Now that you know the Tepalos de las Flores better and, in general, the parts of these, if you want to deepen more in this issue, here we tell you what are the parts of the flower and their functions.
If you want to read more articles similar to Tepalos: What are and their functionwe recommend that you enter our biology category.
