FLORAL FORMULA

and
FLORAL DIAGRAM
What is floral formula?
• Abbreviated description of a flower
• Enables convenient graphical representation of
essential floral characteristics of a species
• Mainly incorporating its sexuality, symmetry,
number and fusion of floral parts and ovary
position
What is floral formula?
• The number of suffix represents the number of
floral leaves.
• The bracket indicates union or cohesion of
members
• The union between dissimilar whorls or adhesion
is shown by a line connecting to symbols.
Components
of the floral
formula
 Actinomorphic Vs. Zygomorphic
Actinomorphic flower Zygomorphic flower
• Radial symmetry • Bilateral symmetry
• Flowers can be divided •Divided into 2 equal
into 2 equal halves along halves only by a medial
any plane cut through the central
axis
 Bract Vs. Bracteoles
Bract Bracteoles
• Protects the flower in bud •Bract-like structure
condition present on the pedicel of
the flower between the
bract and the flower

Br Brl
Bracteate Bracteolate

Ebr Ebrl
Ebracteate Ebracteolate
 Bisexual Vs. Unisexual
Bisexual flower Unisexual flower
• Contain both male and • Contain both male and
female reproductive female reproductive
organs in the same flower organs in the separate
flowers
 Calyx Vs. Corolla
Calyx Corolla
• Outmost whorl of flower • Present just beneath the
• Leaf-like and green in calyx comprised of petals
color • Generally colorful

K C
 Calyx Vs. Corolla

C5 C(5)

K(5) K5
 Choripetalous

Sympetalous
Polysepalous Gamosepalous

Polypetalous Gamopetalous
 Perianth
• Collective term for both calyx and corolla
• If the perianth show no distinction between calyx and
corolla, the term tepals is used

P
 Gynoecium Vs. Androecium
Gynoecium Androecium
• Pistil/Carpel • Stamen
• Stigma + Style + Ovary • Anther + Filament

A
 Fusion of Gynoecium

G2 G(2)
MONOCARPOUS
APOCARPOUS
SYNCARPOUS
 Types of Ovary

G2 G(2)
Hypogynous

Epigynous

Perigynous
 Fusion of Androecium

A(10)
Monadelphus Diadelphus Polyadelphus Syngenesious

A10

Didynamous Tetradynamous
Monadelphous Diadelphous

Polyadelphous Syngenesious
Didynamous Tetradynamous
Other Floral Formula Symbols
Flower Formula Exercise
FABACEAE
– Bracteate
– Zygomorphic
– 5 fused calyx
– 1 banner, 2 wings, 2
fused keel)
– Stamens diadelphous
– 1 carpel, superior ovary
EXERCISES 1
Flower Formula Exercise
SOLANACEAE
– Ebracteate
– Actinomorphic
– Bisexual
– 5 fused calyx
– 5 fused corolla
– 5 free stamens
– Epipetalous condition
– 2 fused carpels,
superior ovary
Flower Formula Exercise
LILICEAE
– Ebracteate
– Actinomorphic
– Bisexual
– Periath with 6 tepals in 2
equal whorls
– 6 androecium in 2 equal
whorls
– Perianth and androecium
are fused
– 3 fused superior gynoecium
Flower Formula Exercise

BRASSICACEAE
– Ebracteate
– Actinomorphic
– Bisexual
– 4 free calyx in 2 equal
whorls
– 4 free corolla
– Stamen tetradynamous
– 2 fused carpels,
superior ovary
Flower Formula Exercise

RICE (POACEAE)
– Bracteate
– Zygomorphic
– Bisexual / Unisexual
– 2 tepals
– 6 free stamens in 2
whorls
– 1 carpel, superior ovary
What is floral diagram?

• Depicts the essential

features of a flower in
cross section
• Shows the relative
position of different floral
members
Floral diagram symbols
Floral diagram symbols
Steps in making a floral diagram

1. Examine mature floral

buds which are due to
open shortly but have not
yet opened. Pluck down
the floral bud from the
mother axis only after you
have noted down the
anterior and posterior
sides.
Steps in making a floral diagram

2. A very small circle is

drawn above the floral
diagram. This circle
represents the mother
axis. Then draw a circle
• Actinomorphic –

• Zygomorphic –

• Terminal – no mother
axis
 Steps in making a floral diagram

3. In bracteate flowers, a
section of bract is drawn
below the floral diagram.
 Steps in making a floral diagram

4. In bracteolate flowers,
bracteoles are drawn in
section on the left and
right sides of the diagram.
 Steps in making a floral diagram

5. Note the number of

sepals, their arrangement
in relation to the mother
axis and their aestivation.
Draw transverse sections
of sepals between the
mother axis and the bract.
In case of odd sepals, the
odd sepal would be drawn
anterior of posterior to
the flower.
 Aestivation
The relative arrangement of sepals or petals in the
bud stage of a flower
 Steps in making a floral diagram

5. The same procedure is

repeated for petals as for
the sepals. However,
petals should be drawn
alternate with the sepals.
If the flower is
zygomorphic, petals or
sepals are drawn of
unequal sizes.
Steps in making a floral diagram

If the parts of the sepals

or petals are fused, draw
lines to connect their
edges together in the
floral diagram.
 Steps in making a floral diagram

6. Count the number of

stamens, the number of
whorls they are arranged,
their cohesion and
adnation to other floral
parts, their position in
relation to petals, their
introrse or extrorse
position, and draw them
inside the petals.
 Anther Orientation

Anthers facing Anthers facing

forward to the center outward from the
of the flower center of the flower
 Type of Stamen Arrangement in
Relation to Petals

Having a single whorl Having twice as many Having twice as many

of stamen alternating stamens as petals in stamens as petals in
in between petals two whorls, the inner alternating whorls,
aligned with the with the outer whorls
petals opposite the petals
Steps in making a floral diagram

In epipetalous condition,
link the stamen and petals
with small radial lines.
 Steps in making a floral diagram

7. The gynoecium is
represented by a
transverse section of the
ovary. Also draw the
number of locules and the
number of ovules in each
locule, in the ovary. Type
of placentation is also
drawn.
Types of Placentation in Plants
Examples of floral diagrams
Exercises #2
Fabaceae Floral Formula and Diagram
Solanaceae Floral Formula and Diagram

Try and draw the floral diagram!

Liliaceae Floral Formula and Diagram
Try and draw the floral diagram!
Brassicaceae Floral Formula and Diagram

Try and draw the floral diagram!

Poaceae Floral Formula and Diagram

Try and draw the floral diagram!

SUMMARY

• A floral formula is a system of

representing the structure of a flower
using specific letters, numbers, and
symbols.
• A floral diagram is a graphic
representation of flower structure. It
shows the number of floral organs, their
arrangement and fusion.
CONCLUSION

• Floral formulas present substantial

information about the flower in a
compact form
• Floral diagrams are useful for flower
identification or can help in
understanding angiosperm evolution
Thankyou
REFERENCES
• BOOKS
– SHARMA, O.P. (2011), Plant Taxonomy, Tata
McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited,
Nagar, New Delhi, pp. 168-169
– SINGH, G. (2010), Plant Systematics: An
Integrated Approach, 3rd Edition, CRC Press,
Taylor Francis and Group, Boca Raton, FL,
pp. 83-84
 REFERENCES
• WEBSITES
– KHAN, S. (2018). Floral Formula, Floral Diagram and
Plant Families. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/ShainaKhan8/floral-
formula-class-11-biology?qid=340bd31c-9218-
4e90-af67-87a40db652ab&v=&b=&from_search=1
– KAUR, R. (2017). Floral Formula for NEETS, AIIMS,
AIPMT, JIPMER. Simplified Biology. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npi8zx66EKE