Flowers are the most attractive and the only reproductive part of a plant. They undergo pollination to produce new seeds. They form one of the major parts in the morphology of a flowering plant. Sepals, petals, stamens, pistils, anther, stigma form the important parts of a flower.
There are several facts about flowers unknown to humans. Here are a few unbelievable characteristics of flowers:
- Flowers appeared around 140 million years ago.
- Broccoli is a flower.
- Centuries ago, tulips were more valuable than gold in Holland.
- A few flowers such as orchids do not need soil for their growth. They receive all the nutrients for survival from the air.
- A few flowers such as sunflowers release toxic substances that can kill the plants in its surroundings.
- Not all flowers smell good. The corpse flower smells like a rotten dead body and is the world’s largest, smelliest and the strangest looking flower.
- Mimosa pudica folds its leaves when touched.
- The flower “Bird of a Paradise” resembles a colourful bird of the tropics.
- The “gas plant” is named so because its leaves, flowers and sea pods emit a strong lemon scented vapour that can even be inflamed on a summer night.
- 30% more oxygen is released by the bamboo plant in the atmosphere and absorbs more carbon dioxide when compared to other plants in the world.
- All flowers of a bamboo species produce flowers at the same time throughout the world.
- Lotus can lie dormant for years in case of drought and revives with the return of water.
- The moon flower blooms only during the night and closes on coming in contact with the sun.
- Saffron is obtained from a type of crocus flower.
- The juice of bluebell flowers was used to make glue in ancient times.
These were some of the interesting facts about these precious gifts of nature. The flowers have not only intrigued us with their unique beauty and pleasant scents but have also surprised us with their strange characteristics.
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