Floral Formulas and Diagrams

Floral Formulas and Diagrams
Convenient shorthand methods of

recording floral symmetry, number of
parts, connation and adnation,
insertion, and ovary position.
1
Floral Formulas
• A floral formula consists of five symbols
indicating from left to right:
• Floral Symmetry
• Number of Sepals
• Number of Petals
• Number of Stamens
• Number of Carpels
2
Floral Formulas
• Floral formulas are useful tools for
remembering characteristics of the various
angiosperm families. Their construction
requires careful observation of individual
flowers and of variation among the flowers
of the same or different individuals.
3
Floral Formula Symbol 1
• The first symbol in a floral formula describes the
symmetry of a flower.
• (*) Radial symmetry – Divisible into equal

halves by two or more planes of symmetry.
• (x) Bilateral symmetry – Divisible into equal
halves by only one plane of symmetry.
• ($) Asymmetrical – Flower lacking a plane of
symmetry, neither radial or bilateral.
4
• The second major symbol in the floral
formula is the number of sepals, with “K”
representing “calyx”. Thus, K5 would
mean a calyx of five sepals.
5
• The third symbol is the number of petals,
with “C” representing “corolla”. Thus, C5
means a corolla of 5 petals.
6
• The fourth symbol in the floral formula is
the number of stamens (androecial items),
with “A” representing “androecium”. A∞
(the symbol for infinity) indicates
numerous stamens and is used when
stamens number more than twelve in a
flower. A10 would indicate 10 stamens.
7
• The fifth symbol in a floral formula
indicates the number of carpels, with “G”
representing “gynoecium”. Thus, G10
would describe a gynoecium of ten
carpels.
8
Basic Floral Formula
• *, K5, C5, A∞, G10
• Radial symmetry (*),

• 5 sepals in the calyx (K5)
• 5 petals in the corolla (C5)
• Numerous (12 or more) stamens (A∞)
• 10 carpels (G10)
9
Floral Formulas
• At the end of the floral formula, the fruit
type is often listed.
• Example:
• *, K5, C5, A∞, G10, capsule
10
More on Floral Formulas
• Connation (like parts fused) is indicated by
a circle around the number representing
the parts involved. For example, in a
flower with 5 stamens all fused (connate)
by their filaments, the floral formula
representation would be:
A5
11
• The plus symbol (+) is used to indicate
differentation among the members of any
floral part. For example, a flower with five
large stamens alternating with five small
ones would be recorded as:
• A5 + 5.
12
• Adnation (fusion of unlike parts) in
indicated by a line connecting the numbers
representing different floral parts. Thus, a
flower that has 4 fused petals (connate
corolla) with 2 stamens fused (or adnate)
to this corrola, is described as:
• C4,A2
13
• The presence of a hypanthium (flat,
cuplike, or tubular structure on which the
sepals, petals, and stamens are borne
usually formed from the fused bases of the
perianth parts and stamens) is indicated in
the same fashion as adnation:
• X, K 5, C 5, A 10, G 5
14
• Sterile stamens or sterile carpels can be
indicated by placing a dot next to the
number of these sterile structures. Thus,
a flower with a fused (syncarpous)
gynoecium composed of five fertile carpels
and five sterile carpels would be
represented as:
• G5+5
15
• Variation in the number of floral parts
within a taxon is indicated by using a dash
(-) to separate the minimum and maximum
numbers. For example a taxon that has
flowers with either 4 or 5 sepals would be
indicated as:
• K 4-5
16
• Variation with a taxon in either connation
or adnation is indicated by using a dashed
(instead of continuous) line:
• C 3, A 6
17
• The lack of a particular floral part is
indicated by placing a zero (0) in the
appropriate position in the floral formula.
For example, a carpellate flower (flower
with a gynoecium but no functional
androecium) would be described as:
• *, K3, C3, A0, G2
18
• Flowers with a perianth of tepals (no
differentation between calyx and corolla)
have the second and third symbols
combined into one. A hyphen(-) is placed
before and after the number in this
symbol. Example:
• *, T-5-, A 10, G 3
19
• A line below the carpel number indicates
the superior position of the ovary with
respect to other floral parts. G3
• A line above the carpel number indicates

the inferior position of the ovary with
respect to other floral parts. G3
•
20
Floral Diagrams
• Floral diagrams are stylized cross sections
of flowers that represent the floral whorls
as viewed from above. Rather like floral
formulas, floral diagrams are used to show
symmetry, numbers of parts, the
relationships of the parts to one another,
and degree of connation and/or adnation.
Such diagrams cannot easily show ovary
position.
21
Floral Diagram Symbols I
22
Floral Diagram Symbols II
23
Sample floral diagrams
24
Sample Floral Diagrams Described
25

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Floral Formulas and Diagrams

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Floral Formulas and Diagrams

Convenient shorthand methods of

• (*) Radial symmetry – Divisible into equal

• Radial symmetry (*),

• A line above the carpel number indicates

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