Flower Identification

• Floral formula is a representation of a flower's characteristics using symbols, alphabets and numbers.
• This is an example of a floral formula: % K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2
• This gives an idea of the type of flower, number of petals, sepals along with their arrangement.

A flower has four main parts:

• Corolla or Petals - It is the outermost colored portion of the flower.
• Symbol used is 'C' followed by the number of petals. Petals may be fused (joined) or free. If they are fused, then the number is shown in brackets
• Example, C6 means 6 free petals. C(6) means 6 fused petals
• If petals are in multiple layers, then it is indicated by split numbers.
• For example, C2+2+(2) - means 3 whorls of 2 petals each. 1 whorl has 2 fused petals.
• Calyx or Sepals - the green colored part that looks like a leaf. It holds the petals and present at the top most portion of the stalk
• Symbol used is 'K' followed by the number of sepals. If the sepals are fused (joined) then the number is shown in brackets
• For Example , K4 means 4 free sepals, K(4) means four fused sepals
• If the sepals are in different layers/whorls, then it's indicated by split numbers with + like K3+3 means 3 sepals arranged in 2 whorls of 3 each.
• If Petals and Sepals are not distinguishable, then they are termed as Tepals and referred to as Perianth (P) .
• Symbol used in such cases is 'P'.
• For Example, P8 means 8 free tepals (petals and sepals)
• Androecium or Stamen (male part) which has 2 parts - the anther and filament
• Symbol used is 'A' followed by Number of Stamens
• For example, A10 indicates 10 free stamens, A (8)+2 indicates 8 fused and 2 free in two whorls (layers)
• If there are more than 10 or 12 stamens are present, then ∞ infinity symbol is used. K∞ indefinite large number of stamens
• Gynoecium or Carpel or Pistil (female part) which has 3 parts - the stigma, style and ovary
• Symbol used is 'G' followed by Number of Carpels
• If Flower is attached below the ovary, it is superior ovary and indicated by a line below the carpel numbers
• If Flower is attached above the ovary, it is termed as inferior ovary and indicated by a line above the carpel numbers
• For eg, G1 means 1 carpel superior ovary, G2 (with line above 2) means 2 carpels with inferior ovary

The other parts which are included in the floral formula are:

• Bract - small leaf like structure that is present at the base of the stalk connecting to the main stem of the plant.
• Br indicates the presence of Bract. 'Ebr' indicates Absence of Bract
• Epicalyx - A group of bracts is an epicalyx.
• Epik indicates presence of Epicalyx
• Bracteole - It is a secondary bract. Smaller and thinner than a bract. It is located at the base of the flower.
• Brl indicates presence of Bracteole. Ebrl indicates absence of bractreole
• Symmetry is in terms of either Radial Symmetry (Actinomorphic) or Vertical Symmetry (Zygomorphic)
• In Actinomorphic, flower can be split along longitudinal axis into symmetrical pieces
• In Zygomorphic, flower can be divided into two halves along a single plane or axis.
• ⊕ is the symbol used for Actinomorphic or Radial symmetry
• % is the symbol used for Zygomorphic symmetry
• A flower can be Unisexual (having either stamens or stigma) or Bisexual. (having both stamen and stigma in the same flower)
• Unisexual Female - indicated by ♀
• Unisexual Male - indicated by ♂
• Bisexual - indicated by ⚥
• The floral formula is written in the following sequence:
• Bract - Br or Ebr
• Bracteole - Brl or Ebrl
• Symmetry - % or ⊕
• Male or Female or Bisexual - ♀, ♂ or ⚥
• Calyx / Sepal - K<number>
• Corolla / Petal - C<number>
• Androecium - A<number>
• Gynaecium - G<number>