Facts about Angiosperms

We all see beautiful flowers that decorate our gardens. These flowers are the reproductive organs that produce fruits that contain seeds. The word Angio means ‘closed’ and ‘Sperma’ means ‘seeds’. In angiosperms, the seeds are closed inside the fruits. Mango, oranges, rose, and hibiscus are examples of angiosperms. Let’s look at some of the interesting facts about angiosperms.

What are Angiosperms?

Angiosperms, the flowering plants are vascular plants with stems, roots and leaves. The seeds of the angiosperm are found in a flower. These make up the majority of all plants on earth. The seeds develop inside the plant organs and form fruit. Hence, they are also known as flowering plants.

Angiosperms are the most advanced and beneficial group of plants. They can grow in various habitats such as trees, herbs, shrubs, and bushes.

The angiosperms originated about 250 million years ago and comprise 80% of the earth. They are a major source of food for humans and animals.

Also Refer- Difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms

Interesting Facts About Flowers and Angiosperms – The flowering plants

Fact-No-1

Poinsettia is an ornamental plant that has colourful modified leaves and the actual flowers are small and inconspicuous. The leaves are arranged around the real flowers to give a flower-like appearance.

Fact-No-2

Some species of flowers are also used as a source of food. Broccoli, which is considered a vegetable, is also a flower. Saffron is obtained from a type of Crocus flower.

Fact-No-3

The wide varieties of Angiosperms are used in the production of floral perfumes, and medicines and are widely used for the production of a variety of food products, they are a good source of honey and spice as well.

Fact-No-4

A few flowers such as orchids do not need soil for their growth. They receive all the nutrients for survival from the air.

Fact-No-5

A few plants such as sunflower plants release toxic substances that can kill the plants in their surroundings. This phenomenon is known as allelopathy.

Fact-No-6

Not all flowers smell good. The corpse flower smells like a rotten dead body and is the world’s largest, smelliest and strangest looking flower.

Fact-No-7

Among different parts of the plant, the flower is the only part which plays a major role in the continuity of the species by functioning as a reproductive part of a plant and are the only source of natural beauty to the world.

Also Read: Anatomy of Flowering Plants

Fact-No-8

The flower “Bird of a Paradise” resembles a colourful bird of the tropics.

Fact-No-9

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.

Fact-No-10

Thirty to forty per cent of more oxygen is released by the bamboo plants into the atmosphere and absorbs more carbon dioxide when compared to other plants in the world.

Fact-No-11

All plants of a bamboo species produce flowers at the same time throughout the world.

Fact-No-12

Lotus can lie dormant for years in case of drought and revives with the return of water.

Also read: Flowers and Inflorescence

Fact-No-13

The carnivorous flowering plants eat bugs, insects and other small animals that land on them. Venus flytrap, butterworts, and pitcher plants are the best example of a carnivorous angiosperm. These species of flowering plants are also called insectivorous plants based on their mode of nutrition.

Fact-No-14

According to plant evolution records, several centuries ago, tulips were more valuable than gold in some places of Holland.

Fact-No-15

The juice of bluebell flowers was used to make glue in ancient times. Some species of angiosperms including the dandelion blossoms, marigolds and roses are higher in vitamins A and C, which are very rarely used in recipes and juices.

Fact-No-16

Sunflowers are the only angiosperms, which move throughout the day in response to the movement of the sun i.e. from east to west.

Fact-No-17

The moonflower blooms only during the night and closes during the daytime on coming in contact with the sun.

Fact – No- 18

The largest flowering plant or angiosperm in the world is the Rafflesia arnoldii. Rafflesia arnoldii grows as large as 2.5 to 3 feet and weighs around 14 to 15 pounds. Wolffia is the smallest flowering plant, which is about the size of a rice grain.

Fact – No- 19

The flower of the Puya Raimondi plants bears a flower stalk of 30,000 to 35,000 feet tall and produces over 7,000 to 8,000s of white coloured flowers at a time.

Fact – No- 20

Flowers are meant mainly for their beauty and fragrance. There are some rare angiosperm species, which are the largest, smelliest, and strangest looking flowers. The corpse flower, also called titan arum is the best example, which blooms over 8 feet tall and 12 feet in circumference and smells like rotten flesh.

Also Read: Morphology of Flowers

These were some of the interesting facts about flowers, the 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.

This article concludes an introduction to the flowering plants – Angiosperms, and their amazing facts. To know more about the Angiosperms, their types, facts and other related topics and important questions, keep visiting our website at BYJU’S Biology.