The Importance of Flowers and Trees

Trees and Flowers: Reproductive Structures

Flowers are the reproductive structures that produce new plants. Trees reproduce by producing flowers, by self pollination or cross- pollination, mostly by insects, animals or wind, and develop fruits bearing seeds. In addition to sexual reproduction, some trees, also naturally reproduce vegetatively by producing basal offshoots, others are prompt to resprout from their trunk when cut; and for many propagation is from woody cuttings. Whatever the case, the tree produces flowers.

Classification of Flowers and Trees

Scientifically classification of trees, on floral characteristics; as flowers represent the most variable and complex organs of a tree. Reason why flowering  trees is set in  two large groups: monocotyledons which produce a single seed leaf, and a single growing point, parallel veins in their leaves and flower parts in multiples of three. An example is the Thatch Palm (Thrinax radiata), a Florida native.

The other group are the dicotyledons, which produce two seed leafs, hence multiple growing points; as leaves with branching netlike veins and flower parts in groups of four or five. The Locust Berry tree (Byrsonima lucida) is a native Florida dicotyledon.

Furthermore, flowering trees stand out as to whether they bear male and female flowers on the same tree (monoecious), for example, the Crabwood (Gymnanthes lucida) native to Florida. Besides, most trees are monoecious. Or, male and female flowers are borne on separate trees (dioecious), thus there are exclusively male and female trees. For example, Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera) is a dioecious native Florida tree. In cultivating sea grape, a male tree must be growing in proximity to a female. For the pollination to occur on the female flower and the tree to bear fruit.

Parts of the Flower

Most of the time a flower tree is only complete if it possess all floral parts: petals, sepals, stamens and the pistil. As, incomplete flowers lack one of more of those parts. Taking into considerations that male flowers bear a staminate (male) and if they lack a pistil or pistillate they are (female).

Additionally, flowers are borne at the branch tip, middle or base, most often in clusters of multiple blooms. Besides, colors are highly variable, ranging from white to dark purple. Also, individual flower size vary from miniscule (under 1⁄4 inch wide). For example as the Brazilian Jaboticaba Tree (Myrciaria cauliflora);to large flower such as the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) (up to 12 inches wide).

All of these floral characters, and others, are a common reference in the precise botanical species identification and description. TreeWorld takes great pride in the wide variety of flowering trees it has in stock. No other plant, large or small, can rival a tree with colorful blooms to give beauty and character to a landscape, private or public.