The Red Fir Forest

Flower Head Terms

Actinomorphic An actinomorphic flower is star shaped. That means that any cut through the center will divide it into two equal parts. Radially Symmetric is another term for actinomorphic. The petals are usually similar in shape, size, and color. Examples of actinomorphic flowers are the Liliaceae and the Ranunculaceae families. Flowers in the Asteraceae Family, such as daisies, seem to be actinormophic flowers, but are really clusters of tiny zygomorphic flowers arranged in radially symmetric inflorescence.

Bract A bract is a leaflike or scalelike plant part, usually small, often showy or brightly colored, and located just below a flower. Bracts are modified leaves surrounding the inflorescence or flower, more or less different from ordinary leaves. They are always stalkless (sessile).

Spur Some flowers have a slender saclike projection called a spur. An example is the Larkspur.

Sympetalous A sympetalous flower has joined petals. The corolla is composed of partially or wholly fused petals forming a a tube or funnel shape. Gamopetalous is a synonym of Sympetalous. An example is the Mountain Pride.

Zygomorphic Zygomorphic or yoke shaped flowers can be divided by exactly one plane into two mirror-image halves, much like a yoke or a person's face. This pattern is sometimes called bilaterally symmetric. An example is the Monkey Flower.