Sunday, June 15, 2014

Petal Sepal Confusion

How do plants keep petals and sepals separate? I found a trillium (Trillium ovatum) that doesn't.

This is a trillium, its three originally white petals fading pink in late spring. The petals rest on three pointed green sepals. Below the flower are three large photosynthetic organs, which I just learned are technically not leaves, but bracts!

trillium forest flower

And this is a trillium that looks to have merged its petals and sepals into one structure. Huh.
odd trillium forest flower

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