Tepal

In a general sense, a tepal is any member or segment of the perianth of a flower, such as a petal or sepal. The perianth comprises the two outer, sterile whorls of a flower, although both whorls are not present in all species. The term tepal is usually used when all segments of a perianth are of similar shape and color (that is, undifferentiated).

Related Topics:
Perianth - Flower - Petal - Sepal

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More specifically, a tepal is a floral part of plants in the Class Magnoliopsida, as for example, in the Family Magnoliaceae and a number of other primitive flowering plants such as the Amborellaceae and Calycanthaceae. It corresponds to the sepals and petals in the flowers of other plants, but unlike these, all tepals are of the same form, not being differentiated into the protective, not insect-attracting sepals that serve to protect the developing bud, and larger, insect-attracting petals.

Related Topics:
Plant - Magnoliopsida - Magnoliaceae - Flowering plant - Amborella - Calycanthaceae - Flower

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