The main difference between petals and petaloid is that petals are the true corolla of a flower whereas petaloid is the condition of having modified sepals resembling petals.
Petals and petaloid are two states of the corolla which occur in the flower of plants. Furthermore, the flowers with petals also contain a separate set of sepals while petaloid have the tepals, the parts of flowers that cannot be classified as either sepals or petals.
Key Areas Covered
1. What are Petals
– Definition, Structure, Function
2. What are Petaloid
– Definition, Structure, Function
3. What are the Similarities Between Petals and Petaloid
– Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Petals and Petaloid
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Flower, Perianth, Petaloid, Petals, Tepals
What are Petals
Petals are the bright-colored and comparatively large structures that surround the reproductive structures of the flower. The main function of petals is to attract pollinators to the flower. In addition, they protect the reproductive structures in the flower. Altogether, petals of a flower are known as the corolla, which is the whorl that generally occurs inside the calyx. Calyx is the whorl of sepals, which serves as the outermost structures of a flower, providing protection to the flower bud.
Figure 1: Sepals and Petals of Rose
Furthermore, the form and the development of petals widely vary among plants. Generally, flowers of eudicots (the largest group of dicots) oftem have four or five petals while flowers of monocots have three or six petals. The number of petals in a flower is used as a character during the classification of flowers. Moreover, most flowers are symmetrical only in one particular plane. Usually, petals have two parts; the upper, broad, leaf blade-like blade and the lower, narrow, petiole-like claw. However, some flowers contain all symmetrical petals while others contain asymmetrical petals.
What are Petaloid
Petaloid is the condition of having structures resembling petals. In some flowers, sepals and petals are indistinguishable from each other as their color, size, and the shape are the same. In this condition, sepals or petals are known as tepals, which is an undifferentiated perianth. Here, the sepals and petals of a flower are collectively known as the perianth. Moreover, some tepals have bright colors, serving as true petals. They are responsible for attracting pollinators to the flower.
Figure 2: Tepals of Lilium
Furthermore, this condition is common in most lilioid monocots such as lilies, tulips, etc. For example, Lilium flower contains six tapes out of which three are sepals while the rest are petals. However, all six have the same appearance. Moreover, some flowers such as hellebores do not contain petals. Therefore their sepals are described as petaloid.
Similarities Between Petals and Petaloid
- Petals and petaloid are two types of bright-colored structures surrounding the reproductive structures of a flower.
- Their function is to attract pollinators to the flower.
Difference Between Petals and Petaloid
Definition
Petals refer to each of the segments of the corolla of a flower, which are modified leaves and are typically colored while petaloid refers to the condition of having the petal-like structure in the flower. Thus, this is the main difference between petals and petaloid.
Significance
Moreover, petals are the true corolla of the flower while tepals become petaloid.
Sepals
Flowers with petals also contain a separate set of sepals while petaloid are modified sepals, which look like petals. Hence, this is also a difference between petals and petaloid.
Conclusion
Petals are the modified leaves of the flower, forming the true corolla. Generally, the flowers with petals have a separate set of sepals. On the other hand, some flowers contain tepals, which are indistinguishable either as sepals or petals. Some flowers have tepals which look like petals known as petaloid. Similarly, both petals and petaloid have bright colors to attract pollinators to the flower. However, the main difference between petals and petaloid is the type of structure.
References:
1. “Petaloid: Resembling a Petal.” Botany Word of the Day, Available Here.
2. “Petal.” The Free Dictionary, Farlex, Available Here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “wild-rose-flower-bud-nature-leaf-wildflower-plant-petal-blossom” (CC0) via PIXNIO
2. “Zanlophator1a.UME” By Ulf Eliasson – Own work (CC BY 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia
Leave a Reply