What is sepal? Why is he called that? The flower on the plants ripens surrounded by green leaves. When the bud opens, they become an invisible support to the petals. Sepals are most often green (leafy), but there are exceptions (petal). So, for example, in orchids, after the beginning of flowering, they take on the shades of a flower, turning into sepals-petals. They are the same for the calendula and anemone. A set of sepals forms a calyx.
To understand what sepals, you need to study their origin. By structural features, they resemble the upper vegetative leaves. In some plants, a smooth transition from them to the sepals is clearly visible. There are a number of flowers in which such formations are generally absent, for example, in anemones.
Sepal Functions
Understanding what a sepal is, comes after determining its value for the flower. This part of the flower performs important functions for the plant.
They form the protection of a flower that has not yet blossomed and the fruit that has already formed.
If the sepals are green, then, like all leaves, they perform the photosynthesis process, that is, they absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
Carries out basic function for a flower corolla.
Structure
Consider what a sepal is in its structure. It consists of two parts: parenchyma (mesophyll and conducting bundles passing in loose tissue) and epidermis (integument).
There are several types of sepals, depending on the location of the leaves in the cup.
When the leaves are separated from each other. For example, cherry or cabbage.
The sepals have either completely grown together, or partially. For example, in potatoes or peas. In structure, they are slightly different, having a cup in the shape of a funnel, bell or tube from the fused sheets. For example, in Kalanchoe.
Some sepals are arranged in two separate circles. For example, in mallow or raspberry.
The two-lipped calyx is divided into two unequal parts, like that of sage.