Classification of flowers based on the presence of pedicel
Flowers are classified into two types based on the presence of pedicel as follows:
Pedicellate
Sessile
Pedicellate
These are the flowers, in which a pedicel is present. Examples include Hibiscus.
Sessile
These are the flowers in which the pedicel is absent and flowers are directly borne on the stem. Examples include
saffron flowers.
Classification based on whorls
Based on the presence or absence of floral whorls, flowers can be classified into the following types:
Complete flower Incomplete flower
A complete flower has all the four whorls in it. An incomplete flower normally lacks one or more whorls.
Examples include Hibiscus, Sweet Potato, Datura, cotton, Examples include papaya flowers, Cumber, Gourd, pumpkin,
tomatoes mulberry
Classification based on sexuality of flower
Based on the presence of male and female reproductive parts, flowers can be classified as follows:
Unisexual flower Bisexual flower
Unisexual flowers possess either male reproductive part (androecium) or
female reproductive part (gynoecium) Bisexual flowers have both the male and female
reproductive parts (androecium and gynoecium)
Flowers having only androecium are called staminate flowers
Flowers having only gynoecium are called pistillate flowers
Examples include papaya, watermelon, gourd, cucumber Examples include Hibiscus, pea, rose, sunflower, lily,
mustard
Neuter flower
It is the flower in which both the essential organs like androecium and gynoecium are absent.
Polygamous plants
In certain plants intersexual, staminate and neutral flowers occur together. These plants are called polygamous
plants.
Classification based on size of the appendages
Flowers can be of two types based on the size, shape, origin and colour of the floral appendages as follows:
Regular flower
A flower is said to be regular when the floral parts of each whorl are similar in size, shape, origin and colour.
Examples include roses.
Irregular flower
A flower is said to be irregular when the floral parts of each whorl are dissimilar in size, origin, shape or colour.
Examples include pea flowers.
Classification based on floral symmetry
The arrangement of the different floral parts around the axis of the flower is called floral symmetry. Using this property
flowers can be divided into equal halves. Based on the types of symmetry, flowers are classified into the following
types:
Symmetric
Actinomorphic (Regular) Zygomorphic (Irregular) Asymmetric
Flowers can be cut in any vertical plane Flowers can be cut in only one vertical plane Flowers cannot be divided into two equal
passing through its centre to get equal passing through its centre to get equal halves across any plane passing through
halves halves them
Examples include mustard Examples include Gulmohar, Cassia, pea
Examples include Canna
flower, Datura flower and chilli flower flower and bean flower
Classifications based on pollination methods:
(1) Wind-pollinated flowers : Flowers having wind as the pollinating agent are called wind pollinated flowers.
Examples: barley, rice, corn, rose, etc.
(2) Insect-pollinated flowers : Insect pollinated flowers have a bright color with a sweet odor that attracts insects.
These flowers produce nectar and as the insects tend to collect the nectar the pollen grains stick to their body which
is carried to the female flower by the insect. Examples: rose, papaya, sunflower, lotus, etc
(3) Bird-pollinated flowers: Few examples of flowers pollinated by birds include: Hibiscus. Fuchsias. Verbenas.
(4) Water-pollinated flowers: Water pollinated plants are Vallisneria, water lily, Zostera. ii. Water pollination is mostly
found in monocots and only in very few dicots.
Some more criterion of classification of flowers
1) Based on Season of growing:
a) Summer season Annuals : Zinnia, Kochia, Portulaca, Tithonia, Gaillardia, Gomphrena,
Sunflower, Daisy, etc.
b) Rainy season annuals : Balsam, cock’s comb, Celosia, Gaillardia, etc.
c) Winter season annuals : Antirrhinum, China aster, Cornflowers, Larkspur, Sweet Sultan,
Phlox, Verbena, Candy tuft, Petunia, etc
2) Based on flower colours:
a) White flowering: Antirrhinum. Alyssum, Dianthus, China aster, Zinnia, Chrysanthemum,
Gladiolus, Gerbera, etc.
b) Purple, Lavender or Blue: Daisy, Rose, Carnation, Dahlia, Ageratum, China aster, Clitoria,
Delphinium, Petunia, Viola, Verbena, Tithonia, Torenia, Daisy, etc.
c) Yellow or orange: Antirrhinum, Marigold Calendula, Zinnia, Gaillardia, Rose, Gladiolus,
Carnation, etc.
d) Red pink: Antirrhinum, Rose, Gladiolus, Carnation, Gerbera, Dahlia, etc.
3) Based on purpose of Growing:
a) Rockery: Ageratum, Alyssum, Brachycome, Phlox, Portulaca, Linum, Nemesia, Saponaria,
Godetia, Euphorbia, etc.
b) Hanging basket: Dwarf Ageratum, Petunia, Portulaca, Verbena, Torenia, Begonia.
c) Edging of beds or path: Dwarf Ageratum, Alyssum, Brachycome, Dianthus, Nigella,
Portulaca, etc.
d) Fragrant flowers: Sweet Alyssum, Sweet Sultan, Sweet pea, Stock, Phlox, Carnation, Rose,
Jasmine, Tuberose, etc.
e) Bedding purpose: Dahlia, Marigold, Phlox, Verbena, Carnation, Petunia, Ice Plant, Candy
Tuft, Balsam, Portulaca, etc.
f) Aromatic: Rose, Jasmine, Tuberose
g) For pots: Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Rose, Antirrhinum, Petunia, Agloenema,
Alocasia, Anthurium, Orchids, Aralia, Begonia, Chlorophytum, Dracena, etc.
h) For loose flowers: Marigold, Jasmine, Crossandra, Berlaria, Chrysanthemums, China Asters,
Sunflowers, Zinnia, Gaillardia, Rose, Dahlia, etc.
i) For Dry flowers: Statice, Helichrysum, Acroclinum, Gomphrena, Limonium, Marigold, Rose,
Lady’s Lace, Nigella, etc.
j) For Hedge purpose: Lawsonia, Duranta, Tecoma, Bougainvillea, Thevetia, Hibiscus, Murraya,
Dodonea, Acalypha, Aralia, Ipatorium, Chlorodendron spp, etc.
k) Cut flowers/modern flowers: Rose, Chrysanthemum, Carnation, Gerbera, Anthurium, Orchids,
Gladiolus, Tuberose, etc.
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4) Based on Nature of Growth:
a) Annuals: Nasturtium, Ice plant, Holly hock, Sweet pea, Annual Chrysanthemum, Carnation,
Cornflower, Sweet Alyssum, Dahlia, Marigold, Verbena, Phlox, Pinks, Calendula, etc.
b) Perennials: Rose, Jasmine, Crossandra, Anthurium, Orchids, Chrysanthemum, Berlaria,
Hibiscus, Gerbera, Carnation, Bulbous Crops.
5) Based on Mode of propagation:
a) Bulbous plants: Lily, Narcissus, Tulip, Tuberose,
b) Cormellous plants: Gladiolus, Crocus.
c) Rhizomatous plants: Canna, Iris,
d) Tuberiferous plants: Dahlia
6) Based on their end use/purpose:
a) Traditional flowers: They are offered in religious and social ceremonies, used as an
adornment by women, and offered for worships at home as well as in temples.
Eg. Jasmine, Rose, Mums, Marigold, Crossandra, Tuberose, Berlaria, Gaillardia, etc.
b) Non-traditional flowers: They are referred to as cut flowers or modern flowers.
Generally flowers are harvested along with a long stem/ stalk.
Eg. Hi-tech roses (Dutch roses), Gerbera, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Gladiolus, Orchids,
Anthuriums, Goldenrod, Bird of Paradise, Limonium, Liatries, Stock, etc
c) Industrial Flowers/Value Added flowers: They are used as raw material in industries for
extraction of essential oil and also preparation of some edible products like gulkand, gulroghan,
pigments as natural colours and also dry flowers.
Eg. Tuberose, Jasmine, Rose, Marigold etc,.
Another type of classification
